Deceased Friars

Patrick C. Callaghan, OFM

Patrick C. Callaghan

1919 – 2001

Fr. Patrick Callaghan, OFM, was born April 20, 1919 in Oswego, N.Y. He attended St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary, Callicoon, N.Y., for one year before he was received into the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1939. Fr. Patrick professed temporary vows one year later, made his solemn profession in 1943 and was ordained in 1946.

During the summers of his years as a student friar, Fr. Patrick earned a master’s degree in English from St. Bonaventure University, Allegany, N.Y., equipping him for his first priestly assignment to the Callicoon seminary, where he taught English and “French with an Irish brogue,” and served as prefect of discipline and vice-rector. He served for two years each at Bishop Timon High School, Buffalo, N.Y., and St. Anthony Shrine, Boston, before transferring to Siena College, Loudonville, N.Y., where he taught English for nine years.

Fr. Patrick joined the Province’s retreat band for one year before spending a year as an associate at Our Lady’s Chapel, New Bedford, Mass. He became director of retreats in Paterson, N.J., and St. Francis Friary, Rye Beach, N.H., for two years each before beginning parochial ministry at St. Stephen Friary, Croghan, N.Y., first as priest in charge of the New Bremen and Castorland missions, then as pastor of St. Stephen’s, the mother church.

He served one year at St. Anthony Shrine before transferring to St. Joseph Parish, Winsted, Conn., where he ministered from 1977 to 1979. In 1979, he moved back to the Diocese of Ogdensburg, N.Y., becoming administrator for a brief period of St. Rita Parish, Deferiet, N.Y., before being installed as pastor of St. Ann’s Parish at St. Regis Falls, N.Y., where he served for 18 years. Fr. Patrick officially retired in 1988 at age 69, but continued serving as pastor for another nine years at the urging of Bishop Joseph Brzana.

Fr. Patrick died on Jan. 21, 2001 at the Adirondack Medical Center, Saranac Lake, N.Y. He was 81 years old, a professed friar for 60 years and a priest for 54 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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Patrick C. Callaghan, OFM

Patrick C. Callaghan

1919 – 2001

Fr. Patrick Callaghan, OFM, was born April 20, 1919 in Oswego, N.Y. He attended St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary, Callicoon, N.Y., for one year before he was received into the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1939. Fr. Patrick professed temporary vows one year later, made his solemn profession in 1943 and was ordained in 1946.

During the summers of his years as a student friar, Fr. Patrick earned a master’s degree in English from St. Bonaventure University, Allegany, N.Y., equipping him for his first priestly assignment to the Callicoon seminary, where he taught English and “French with an Irish brogue,” and served as prefect of discipline and vice-rector. He served for two years each at Bishop Timon High School, Buffalo, N.Y., and St. Anthony Shrine, Boston, before transferring to Siena College, Loudonville, N.Y., where he taught English for nine years.

Fr. Patrick joined the Province’s retreat band for one year before spending a year as an associate at Our Lady’s Chapel, New Bedford, Mass. He became director of retreats in Paterson, N.J., and St. Francis Friary, Rye Beach, N.H., for two years each before beginning parochial ministry at St. Stephen Friary, Croghan, N.Y., first as priest in charge of the New Bremen and Castorland missions, then as pastor of St. Stephen’s, the mother church.

He served one year at St. Anthony Shrine before transferring to St. Joseph Parish, Winsted, Conn., where he ministered from 1977 to 1979. In 1979, he moved back to the Diocese of Ogdensburg, N.Y., becoming administrator for a brief period of St. Rita Parish, Deferiet, N.Y., before being installed as pastor of St. Ann’s Parish at St. Regis Falls, N.Y., where he served for 18 years. Fr. Patrick officially retired in 1988 at age 69, but continued serving as pastor for another nine years at the urging of Bishop Joseph Brzana.

Fr. Patrick died on Jan. 21, 2001 at the Adirondack Medical Center, Saranac Lake, N.Y. He was 81 years old, a professed friar for 60 years and a priest for 54 years.