BUTLER, N.J. — Jude Murphy, OFM, 81, a professed friar for 57 years and a priest for 51, died Sept. 7 at St. Anthony Friary.
A wake was held at St. Anthony Church in Butler, N.J., on Sept. 10, and a Mass of Christian Burial on Sept. 11, also at St. Anthony’s. Interment followed at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Butler.
Early Years
A native of Woburn, Mass., Jude was born on Feb. 12, 1931, to Edward and Margaret (McEhinney) Murphy. He graduated from Boston College High School in Boston before he served four years in the National Guard. He attended Boston College for one year, and St. Joseph Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y., for one year.
Jude was received into the Order on Aug. 12, 1954 in Paterson, N.J. He professed his first vows there on Aug. 13, 1955. Following his novitiate year, he completed his college education at St. Francis College in Rye Beach, N.H., receiving a bachelor’s in philosophy from St. Bonaventure University in 1957. He then studied theology at Holy Name College in Washington, D.C.
He professed final vows at Christ the King Seminary in Allegany, N.Y., on Aug. 20, 1958, and was ordained to the priesthood on Feb. 25, 1961 at Mount St. Sepulchre in Washington, D.C.
Ministry
Following his ordination, Jude completed a year of pastoral theology at St. Anthony Shrine in Boston. He was then assigned to teach at St. Bonaventure University in Allegany from 1962 to 1966, and at St. Francis College in Rye Beach from 1966 to 1973, while earning a master’s in education from the University of New Hampshire.
From 1973 to 1981, he taught at Bishop Timon High School in Buffalo, N.Y., and then served as chaplain for one year at St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla. He stayed four years at St. Joseph Parish in East Rutherford, N.J., before he was assigned as associate at St. Anthony Shrine in 1986. He stayed there for one year before spending two years at St. Francis Friary in Brookline, Mass.
In 1989, Jude became parochial vicar at St. Anthony Parish in Butler, and in 1994, he was appointed spiritual assistant for the Secular Franciscans while serving at St. Francis Chapel in Providence, R.I. He was assistant director of novices there from 1996 to 1999 before serving three years as parochial vicar and one year as senior associate friar at St. Mary Parish in Pompton Lakes, N.J. In 2003, he returned to St. Anthony Parish in Butler, serving there until 2010 before retiring to St. Anthony Residence in Boston, then St. Anthony Friary in May 2012.
In addition to his parents, Jude was predeceased by his brother, Edward, and sisters, Rita Grant, Sally McNeil, Loretta Hogan, Kathleen Brogna, Theresa Currier and Patricia Maraschio, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He is survived by his sister, Sr. Kathleen (Mary Josephine) Murphy, OSF, a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, N.Y. Condolences may be sent to Sr. Kathleen at 301 North Beach Avenue, Beach Haven, N.J.,08008.
Memorial contributions may be sent to: The Franciscans — St. Anthony’s Guild, 144 West 32nd Street, New York, N.Y., 10001-3202.
— Compiled by Theresa Bartha and Dominic Monti, OFM