Fr. Joseph Madden, OFM Conv.

+ Fr. Joseph Madden, OFM Conv., was born in Brighton, MA on January 30, 1935 and entered into Eternal Life on April 22, 2019. He was the son of the late Joseph and Maria (Hazell) Madden. In addition to his Franciscan family, he leaves his sister Julie White of Littleton, CO. Friar Joseph entered the Francis Friars Conventual Novitiate in Middleburgh, NY, on August 11, 1956. He professed his Temporary Vows on August 12, 1957 and his Solemn Vows on October 11, 1960. Father Joe was ordained to the priesthood in Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Albany, NY on May 26, 1962. His first assignment was as a temporary assistant at St. Mary Church, Minoa, NY from 1962 to 1963. Fr. Joe was sent to study Spanish for six months in Cuernavaca, Mexico. He served three years in Costa Rica; first in the Novitiate in Alajuela, and also as a teacher in St. Francis college in Moravia until 1967. Returning to the United States, Fr. Joe became the Parochial Assistant at St. Mary Church, Nassau, NY from 1967 to 1970. The following years Fr. Joe lived a life of Franciscan itinerancy. He served as Parochial Assistant at Ss. Peter and Paul Church, Camden, NJ from 1970-1973. In 1973 he moved to St. Francis High School, Staten Island, NY and served as a teacher until 1975. He served for the next year as Chaplain at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Utica, NY. Fr. Joe was assigned to St. Hyacinth College and Seminary from 1976 to 1978 while living at San Damiano (Postulant House) Friary in Holyoke, MA. In 1978 he was assigned as Assistant Pastor and later as Pastor of St. Joseph Church, Hoboken, NJ (1978-1985). He was then assigned on-loan to the St. Francis Custody of Canada from 1985-1997. Returning in 1997 to the United States, Fr. Joe became the Pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Church in Winston-Salem, NC where he remained for four years. In 2001 he was assigned to Our Lady of Guadalupe Friary, Pittsboro, NC and served as Pastor, Associate Pastor, and Administrator of St. Julia Church, in Siler City for many years. During this time, Fr. Joe also ministered to the parish of St. Andrew The Apostle Catholic Church, Apex. Feeling the burden of age in increased infirmity in the spring of 2018, Fr. Joe asked to be assigned to St. Hyacinth Friary, Chicopee, MA which is one of our Assisted Living Facilities. Later that year, Fr. Joe entered Our Lady of the Angels Care Center in Enfield, CT. Sister Death claimed him on April 22, 2019. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Andrew The Apostle Catholic Church, 3008 Old Raleigh Rd, Apex, on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at 6:00 pm. Fr. Joe was laid to rest in Our Lady of the Angels Cemetery, Albany, NY, in the Franciscan Friars’ plot. Memorial Donations may be made to the Franciscan Education Burse, 12300 Folly Quarter Rd., Ellicott City, MD 21042.

Fr. Joseph Madden, OFM Conv.

January 30, 1935 - April 22, 2019