Regis Duffy, 71 years of age, a professed Franciscan friar for 50 years and a priest for 44 years, died Jan. 4 at the St. Bonaventure University Friary.
Regis was born on Oct. 15, 1934, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to John and Alice (née Hartigan) Duffy. He was baptized John on Nov. 11 in Saint Francis Xavier Church in Brooklyn. He graduated in 1952 from St. Joseph Seminary, Callicoon, N.Y. John was received into the Order on Aug. 12, 1954, and received the name Regis, in St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., by Cassian Kirk. He professed his first vows at Paterson a year later before Donald Hoag and professed solemn vows at Christ the King Seminary, Allegany, N.Y., on Aug. 12, 1958, before Celsus Wheeler. He did his philosophical studies at St. Francis College, Rye Beach, N.H., and theology at Holy Name College, Washington, D.C. Archbishop (later Cardinal) Egidio Vagnozzi ordained him a priest in the church of Mount St. Sepulchre Friary, Washington, on Feb. 25, 1961.
Since his ordination, Regis has taught in education ministry and holds seven academic degrees: St. Bonaventure University, B.A., 1957; Manhattanville College, B.S.M., 1962; University of New York, M.A., 1966; Catholic University of America, S.T.L.,1966; two degrees from the Institute de Liturgie of Paris, P.S.L., 1969 and M.S.L., 1971, and a doctorate in sacramental theology from the Institut Catholique of Paris, S.T.D., 1971. He has also done post-doctoral work in Paris at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes, Sorbonne University and done research at the University of Wurzburg, West Germany and was a visiting professor at the following: Princeton Theological Seminary (1976), Virginia Episcopal Seminary (1979), University of Notre Dame (1982), and American University in Washington (1982). From 1971 to 1989, he was a professor at the Washington Theological Union; from 1989 to 1995, University of Notre Dame; and for 10 years, scholar in residence at the Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure University.
Regis has been sacramental-area editor for the Supplement of The New Catholic Encyclopedia and has published articles in Worship, Theologie der Gegenwart, The Heythrop Journal, The Proceedings of the Catholic Theological Society of America, and Journal of Ecumenical Studies, and in collections such as The Sacraments: God’s Love and Mercy Actualized, Liturgy and Social Justice, Parish: A Place of Renewal. His first book, Real Presence, was published by Harper and Row in 1982, and he went on to publish four other books, the last one in 1995, Liturgy & the Universal Catechism, published by Chapman, London. Regis was also a past member of the Board of Trustees of The Catholic Theological Society of America, and his talks are distributed nationally on cassette tapes by NCR.
A Visitation and Office of the Dead was held Jan. 7 at 9 a.m. at the St. Bonaventure University Chapel. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 10 a.m. in the University Chapel. Dominic Monti was the principal celebrant, and the guardian, Xavier Seubert, preached the homily. Interment followed at St. Bonaventure Cemetery, Allegany, N.Y.