Deceased Friars

Seraphin Sullivan, OFM

Seraphin Sullivan

1923 – 1987

Fr. Seraphin Sullivan, OFM, was born on Sept. 2, 1923 in Lawrence, Mass. After three years at St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y., he entered the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1943, professing temporary vows one year later. He made his solemn profession in 1947 and was ordained in 1950.

He taught at Bishop Timon High School in Buffalo, N.Y., for two years before attending Siena College, Loudonville, N.Y., where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physics. Fr. Seraphin went on to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and The Catholic University of America, from which he received his doctorate’s in spectroscopy. He taught at Siena College and St. Bonaventure University, Allegany, N.Y., before a stroke cut short his academic career.

Fr. Seraphin then ministered as chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital in Tampa, Fla. From 1974 to 1986, he served as chaplain, retreat master and counselor at the Franciscan Center in Tampa.

He died on Jan. 17, 1987 at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Fr. Seraphin was 63 years old, a professed friar for 42 years and a priest for 36 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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Seraphin Sullivan, OFM

Seraphin Sullivan

1923 – 1987

Fr. Seraphin Sullivan, OFM, was born on Sept. 2, 1923 in Lawrence, Mass. After three years at St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y., he entered the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1943, professing temporary vows one year later. He made his solemn profession in 1947 and was ordained in 1950.

He taught at Bishop Timon High School in Buffalo, N.Y., for two years before attending Siena College, Loudonville, N.Y., where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physics. Fr. Seraphin went on to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and The Catholic University of America, from which he received his doctorate’s in spectroscopy. He taught at Siena College and St. Bonaventure University, Allegany, N.Y., before a stroke cut short his academic career.

Fr. Seraphin then ministered as chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital in Tampa, Fla. From 1974 to 1986, he served as chaplain, retreat master and counselor at the Franciscan Center in Tampa.

He died on Jan. 17, 1987 at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Fr. Seraphin was 63 years old, a professed friar for 42 years and a priest for 36 years.