Regis A. Duffy, OFM

1934 – 2006

Fr. Regis Duffy, OFM, was born on Oct. 15, 1934 in Brooklyn, N.Y., and baptized John. After attending Holy Name School in Brooklyn, he enrolled at St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y. He was received into the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson. N.J., in 1954, professing temporary vows one year later. He made his solemn profession in 1958 and was ordained in 1961.

He was assigned briefly as an instructor at Bishop Timon High School, Buffalo, N.Y., in 1962. One year later, Fr. Regis joined the faculty at St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary, where he remained for two years. He went on to study in Parish from 1967 to 1971, also ministering at U.S. military bases in Western Europe. In 1971, Fr. Regis returned to the United States and began teaching at the Washington Theological Union.

In 1979, he was elected to the board of the Catholic Theological Society of America. His first book was published three years later and another two books would follow in the next two years. In 1989, he joined the department of theology at the University of Notre Dame. After resigning from the faculty in 1994, Fr. Regis was invited to become scholar-in-residence at the Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure University, Allegany, N.Y.

He died on Jan. 4, 2006 at St. Bonaventure Friary, Allegany. Fr. Regis was 71 years old, a professed friar for 50 years and a priest for 44 years.