Deceased Friars

William Major, OFM

William Major

1905 – 1971

Fr. William Major, OFM, was born on April 15, 1905 in Buffalo, N.Y. He graduated from St. Bonaventure University, Allegany, N.Y., and entered the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1932, professing temporary vows in 1933. Fr. William made his solemn profession in 1936 and was ordained in 1939.

His first assignments were to Brookline, Mass., and Paterson, N.J. When World War II broke out, he became a U.S. Air Force chaplain and attained the rank of major. After 1955, he ministered in Paterson and served in various New Jersey parishes. He was confessor for the seminarians at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Darlington, N.J., and the Little Sisters of the Poor.

He died on Jan. 7, 1971 at St. Joseph Hospital in Paterson, N.J. Fr. William was 65 years old, a professed friar for 37 years and a priest for 31 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 Major, OFM

William Major

1905 – 1971

Fr. William Major, OFM, was born on April 15, 1905 in Buffalo, N.Y. He graduated from St. Bonaventure University, Allegany, N.Y., and entered the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1932, professing temporary vows in 1933. Fr. William made his solemn profession in 1936 and was ordained in 1939.

His first assignments were to Brookline, Mass., and Paterson, N.J. When World War II broke out, he became a U.S. Air Force chaplain and attained the rank of major. After 1955, he ministered in Paterson and served in various New Jersey parishes. He was confessor for the seminarians at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Darlington, N.J., and the Little Sisters of the Poor.

He died on Jan. 7, 1971 at St. Joseph Hospital in Paterson, N.J. Fr. William was 65 years old, a professed friar for 37 years and a priest for 31 years.