Deceased Friars

Victorian Reischman, OFM

Victorian Reischman

1905 – 1978

Fr. Victorian Reischman, OFM, was born in Philadelphia on Jan. 12, 1905. He graduated from St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary, Callicoon N.Y., and entered the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Church in Paterson, N.J., Aug. 4, 1925. He professed temporary vows on Aug. 5, 1926, and made his profession of solemn vows on Aug. 5, 1929. Fr. Victorian was ordained a priest June 14, 1932.

His first nine years of active ministry were spent at St. Francis of Assisi Friary on West 31st Street, where he served as assistant, master of brothers and sub-syndic. In 1942, he was appointed procurator of Holy Name College, Washington, D.C., a position he held for 12 years. In 1952, Fr. Victorian became guardian of St. Anthony Friary in Butler, N.J. Three years later, he was elected a councilor of the Province and provincial commissary of the Secular Franciscans. He organized the first provincial convention of the Secular Franciscans and helped frame the constitutions.

In 1967, Fr. Victorian returned to Holy Name College for two years as procurator, and then served at Our Lady’s Chapel in New Bedford, Mass., until 1976.

Fr. Victorian was perennially placid and cheerful — a pleasant friar to be with. He died in St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla., on May 4, 1978. He was 73 years old, a professed friar for 51 years, and a priest for 45 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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Victorian Reischman, OFM

Victorian Reischman

1905 – 1978

Fr. Victorian Reischman, OFM, was born in Philadelphia on Jan. 12, 1905. He graduated from St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary, Callicoon N.Y., and entered the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Church in Paterson, N.J., Aug. 4, 1925. He professed temporary vows on Aug. 5, 1926, and made his profession of solemn vows on Aug. 5, 1929. Fr. Victorian was ordained a priest June 14, 1932.

His first nine years of active ministry were spent at St. Francis of Assisi Friary on West 31st Street, where he served as assistant, master of brothers and sub-syndic. In 1942, he was appointed procurator of Holy Name College, Washington, D.C., a position he held for 12 years. In 1952, Fr. Victorian became guardian of St. Anthony Friary in Butler, N.J. Three years later, he was elected a councilor of the Province and provincial commissary of the Secular Franciscans. He organized the first provincial convention of the Secular Franciscans and helped frame the constitutions.

In 1967, Fr. Victorian returned to Holy Name College for two years as procurator, and then served at Our Lady’s Chapel in New Bedford, Mass., until 1976.

Fr. Victorian was perennially placid and cheerful — a pleasant friar to be with. He died in St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla., on May 4, 1978. He was 73 years old, a professed friar for 51 years, and a priest for 45 years.