Deceased Friars


Pascal Foley, OFM

Pascal Foley

1920 – 1979

Fr. Pascal Foley, OFM, was born on July 17, 1920 in New York City. He was received into the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1941, professing temporary vows one year later. He was solemnly professed in 1945 and ordained in 1947.

He began his teaching career at Bishop Timon High School, Buffalo, N.Y., and joined the faculty of Siena College, Loudonville, N.Y., two years later. He taught philosophy there until 1953, when he became a philosophy professor at St. Francis College, Rye Beach, N.H. In 1955, Fr. Pascal was appointed guardian and rector of St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary, Callicoon, N.Y. After his term, he returned to Rye Beach as a member of the faculty.

When the friary closed as a house of philosophy in 1967, Fr. Pascal returned to Siena College. However, ill health forced him to discontinue teaching and he spent the next six years doing research for the Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure University. Fr. Pascal was particularly fond of St. Bonaventure’s theological and philosophical works. He found great comfort and consolation in St. Bonaventure’s Itinerarium Mentis in Deum, and he sought to inspire students to go to that source for their spiritual nourishment.

He died on March 17, 1979 while on a trip to visit the friars in St. Petersburg, Fla. Fr. Pascal was 58 years old, a professed friar for 36 years and a priest for 31 years.

Each of us should be called a lesser brother, a Friar Minor. Each one of us should wash the feet of the others.”

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Pascal Foley, OFM

Pascal Foley

1920 – 1979

Fr. Pascal Foley, OFM, was born on July 17, 1920 in New York City. He was received into the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1941, professing temporary vows one year later. He was solemnly professed in 1945 and ordained in 1947.

He began his teaching career at Bishop Timon High School, Buffalo, N.Y., and joined the faculty of Siena College, Loudonville, N.Y., two years later. He taught philosophy there until 1953, when he became a philosophy professor at St. Francis College, Rye Beach, N.H. In 1955, Fr. Pascal was appointed guardian and rector of St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary, Callicoon, N.Y. After his term, he returned to Rye Beach as a member of the faculty.

When the friary closed as a house of philosophy in 1967, Fr. Pascal returned to Siena College. However, ill health forced him to discontinue teaching and he spent the next six years doing research for the Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure University. Fr. Pascal was particularly fond of St. Bonaventure’s theological and philosophical works. He found great comfort and consolation in St. Bonaventure’s Itinerarium Mentis in Deum, and he sought to inspire students to go to that source for their spiritual nourishment.

He died on March 17, 1979 while on a trip to visit the friars in St. Petersburg, Fla. Fr. Pascal was 58 years old, a professed friar for 36 years and a priest for 31 years.