Deceased Friars

William Curran, OFM

William Curran

1914 – 1959

Fr. William Curran, OFM, was born on July 6, 1914 in Newark, N.J. He graduated from St. Joseph Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y., and entered the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1934. He professed temporary vows one year later and made his solemn profession in 1938. Fr. William was ordained a priest in 1941.

Following his ordination, Fr. William was assigned to St. Francis of Assisi Parish in New York City, where he ministered until 1949. He then served as assistant pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Rochelle Park, N.J., until 1955, when he was appointed a teacher at Bishop Timon High School in Buffalo, N.Y. While at Timon, he was a zealous promoter of the Secular Franciscans among the students. In 1956, he was appointed Provincial promoter of Friar magazine, and he resided in Paterson, N.J. Fr. William was a pleasant, congenial friar whose genuine charity and gentleness were recognized by the friars of the Province.

He died on Oct. 9, 1959 at St. Michael’s Hospital in Newark, N.J. Fr. William was 45 years old, a professed friar for 24 years and a priest for 18 years.

Each of us should be called a lesser brother, a Friar Minor. Each one of us should wash the feet of the others.”

Main Content

William Curran, OFM

William Curran

1914 – 1959

Fr. William Curran, OFM, was born on July 6, 1914 in Newark, N.J. He graduated from St. Joseph Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y., and entered the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1934. He professed temporary vows one year later and made his solemn profession in 1938. Fr. William was ordained a priest in 1941.

Following his ordination, Fr. William was assigned to St. Francis of Assisi Parish in New York City, where he ministered until 1949. He then served as assistant pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Rochelle Park, N.J., until 1955, when he was appointed a teacher at Bishop Timon High School in Buffalo, N.Y. While at Timon, he was a zealous promoter of the Secular Franciscans among the students. In 1956, he was appointed Provincial promoter of Friar magazine, and he resided in Paterson, N.J. Fr. William was a pleasant, congenial friar whose genuine charity and gentleness were recognized by the friars of the Province.

He died on Oct. 9, 1959 at St. Michael’s Hospital in Newark, N.J. Fr. William was 45 years old, a professed friar for 24 years and a priest for 18 years.