Deceased Friars

Ronan Giehl, OFM

Ronan Giehl

1914 – 1979

Fr. Ronan Giehl, OFM, was born in Astoria, N.Y., on March 28, 1914, and raised in the “Hell’s Kitchen” section of Manhattan. He studied for the priesthood with the Maryknoll community for six years.

In 1936, he entered the Province’s novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson, N.J. The following year, he professed temporary vows and made his solemn profession of in 1940. Fr. Ronan was ordained a priest in 1942.

From 1947 until 1956, Fr. Ronan served in Catalao and Anapolis as a missionary in Brazil. His love for the Church and the poor animated his ministry as a friar-priest for 37 years, in the roles of Brazilian missionary, hospital chaplain and assistant at St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York City.

Fr. Ronan died Sept. 2, 1979, in St. Clare’s Hospital in New York. He was 65 years old, a professed friar for 42 years and a priest for 37 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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Ronan Giehl, OFM

Ronan Giehl

1914 – 1979

Fr. Ronan Giehl, OFM, was born in Astoria, N.Y., on March 28, 1914, and raised in the “Hell’s Kitchen” section of Manhattan. He studied for the priesthood with the Maryknoll community for six years.

In 1936, he entered the Province’s novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary in Paterson, N.J. The following year, he professed temporary vows and made his solemn profession of in 1940. Fr. Ronan was ordained a priest in 1942.

From 1947 until 1956, Fr. Ronan served in Catalao and Anapolis as a missionary in Brazil. His love for the Church and the poor animated his ministry as a friar-priest for 37 years, in the roles of Brazilian missionary, hospital chaplain and assistant at St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York City.

Fr. Ronan died Sept. 2, 1979, in St. Clare’s Hospital in New York. He was 65 years old, a professed friar for 42 years and a priest for 37 years.