Sylvester Herold, OFM

1891 – 1973

Fr. Sylvester was born in Paterson, N.J., on April 16, 1891. He was received into the novitiate Aug. 20, 1910, and professed temporary vows on Aug. 21, 1911. Fr. Sylvester made his profession of solemn vows on Sept. 1, 1914, and was ordained a priest June 30, 1917.

After ordination, he was assigned to the faculty of St. Joseph Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y., and during his years there built Our Lady of the Lake Church at Lake Huntington. In 1921, he joined the Mission Band, and four years later succeeded Fr. Chrysostom Huegel, OFM, as the Superior of the Mission Band.

In 1934, Sylvester was appointed pastor and guardian of Holy Cross Church and Friary in the old Clason Point section of the Bronx. During his two terms, he built the new friary. After two terms as guardian, he remained as pastor and greatly reduced the parish debt, which had resulted from the construction of the church and school building.

Fr. Sylvester served as a provincial councilor from 1931 until 1937. He was also pastor at St. Thomas Aquinas in Beach Haven, N.J., and served many years on the Long Beach Island. In his later years, he also ministered at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Manhattan.

He died at St. Bonaventure’s on May 14, 1973. He was 82 years old, a professed friar for 61 years and a priest for 55 years.