RINGWOOD, N.J. — Anthony McGuire, OFM, a professed friar for 63 years and a priest for 58, died Nov. 6 at Holy Name Friary. He was 87 years old.
Early Years
Anthony was born in Wilmington, Del., Nov. 23, 1922, the child of James and Margaret McGuire, and baptized Joseph. He attended St. Paul Grammar School and Wilmington High School, graduating in 1941. He then studied for five years at St. Joseph Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y.
Joseph entered Order of Friars Minor, Holy Name Province, on Aug. 12, 1946, at St. Bonaventure Church, Paterson, N.J., receiving the name Anthony. He professed first vows there Aug. 13, 1947, before Bertrand Campbell, OFM.
Anthony pursued philosophical studies at St. Stephen Friary, Croghan, N.Y., and St. Anthony Friary, Butler, N.J., and then theology at Holy Name College, Washington, D.C. He professed final vows there Sept. 17, 1950, beforeThomas Plassmann, OFM. Anthony was ordained a priest by Apostolic Delegate Archbishop Amleto Cicognani on June 28, 1952, at Mount St. Sepulchre, the Franciscan Monastery in Washington.
Ministry
From 1953 to 1958, Anthony taught at Bishop Timon High School in Buffalo, N.Y. In 1958, he became a faculty member at St. Joseph Seraphic Seminary, also serving as prefect of discipline until 1967.
Anthony then served as parochial vicar in several parishes over the next 12 years: St. Bonaventure in Paterson, St. Stephen of Hungary in New York City, and St. Anthony in Butler, N.J. Beginning in 1979, he served as associate at Our Lady’s Chapel in New Bedford, Mass.
In 1982, Anthony was appointed pastor of St. Francis Xavier Church in Narrowsburg, N.Y., where he served until 1994. He then moved to St. Anthony Friary in Butler, N.J., as senior associate friar, where he lived until March 2010, when he transferred to Holy Name Friary in Ringwood due to failing health.
Funeral Services
A wake service was held Nov. 8 at Holy Name Friary’s Cortona Chapel.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Provincial Minister John O’Connor, OFM, on Nov. 9 at Cortona Chapel. Francis Soucy, OFM, preached the homily. Burial followed, beside his late brother Edward McGuire, OFM, at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Butler, N.J.
Anthony is survived by his sister, Beatrice Ryan of Wilmington, and nephew, Edward Fuller. Condolences can be sent to Mr. Edward Fuller, 2517 Emerson Drive, Wilmington DE 19808.
Memorial contributions can be made to: The Franciscans — St. Anthony’s Guild, 4 Jersey Street, East Rutherford NJ 07073-1012.