The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal have Announced the Death of Rev. Benedict Groeschel, at the age of 81

by Carolyne Volpe Curley / Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com
Published 11:09pm

Credit: Franciscan Friars of the Renewal

CALDWELL, NJ - The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal have announced that Father Benedict Groeschel, CFR, died late last night on the vigil of the Feast of St. Francis at the age of 81, after complications with an ongoing illness. Groeschel was a devoted religious and priest who moved many with his sincere faith and passionate preaching and his tender commitment to those in need. In 1987, Groeschel along with seven other Capuchin Friars founded the Community of Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (CFR), in New York City. He was also a well-known writer, preacher, retreat master, and evangelist on EWTN Catholic television. 

Credit: Laura Bulger

Early Life and Education
Fr. Groeschel was born in Jersey City as Robert Peter Groeschel. After graduating from high school in 1951, he entered the Capuchin order in Detroit. The following year he was given the name Benedict Joseph after the 18th Century French Franciscan Priest St. Benedict Joseph Labre. The reverend was ordained a priest in 1959. 

Groeschel went on to receive his Master's Degree in Counseling from Iona College in 1964 and was awarded his Doctorate of Education in Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1971.

Catholic Service
Groeschel became the director of Trinity Retreat House in Larchmont, NY, serving there as both priest and psychologist. He also taught for many years at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie. 

According to members of his order, Groeschel's greatest joy was serving the underprivileged. He established St. Francis House and Good Counsel Home and for 14 years served as the chaplain at Children’s Village in Dobbs Ferry. He is noted as being always deeply concerned with the welfare of others.  

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Fr. Benedict Groeschel's Family
Fr. Benedict was preceded in death by his brothers Edward and Mark.
He is survived by: 

• Marjule Drury, sister
  
• Robin Groeschel, sister
  
• Gary Groeschel, brother
  
• Nine nieces and nephew
  

Additionally, Fr. Groeschel is survived by 115 CFR brothers and priests and 31 sisters who are said to be inspired by his authentic witness to religious life and devotion to Jesus and His Church.

Credit: Franciscan Friars of the Renewal

“We are deeply saddened by the death of Fr. Benedict,
he was an example to us all," commented Fr. John Paul Ouellette,
Community Servant, Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. 
"His fidelity and service to the Church and
commitment to our Franciscan way of life
will have a tremendous impact for generations to come.”

Memorial Arrangements
The arrangements for Fr. Groeschel's Wake and Funeral Mass are as follows:

Wake

• St. Adalbert’s Church 
  420 E 156th Street, Bronx, NY 
  
  • Wednesday, Oct. 8 
    12pm to 9pm
    
• Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart
  89 Ridge Street, Newark
  
  • Thursday, Oct. 9
    4pm to 7pm
    7pm to 9pm ~ Vigil Service, EWTN will air the service
    
    

Mass of Christian Burial  

• Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart
  89 Ridge Street, Newark
  
  • Friday, Oct. 10
    11am ~ EWTN will air the funeral mass
    
    

Burial   
Private ceremony not open to the public at Most Blessed Sacrament Friary, Newark
 
Condolences
A Facebook memorial page is available online here.

Credit: EWTN

Donations
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Fr. Groeschel's name to:
Our Lady of the Angels Friary
427 E. 155th Street, Bronx, NY 10455 
Donate online here

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Br. Angelus Montgomery, CFR, issued the following statement on behalf of the Franciscan Community:

"The Catholic Church and the Franciscan family lost a giant today.
This moment is one that finds the Community of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal with mixed emotions, as we are deeply saddened by the loss of Fr. Benedict but also relieved that God has set him free from the physical and mental suffering he has experienced over the past decade. 

The world knew Father Benedict as a priest, teacher, evangelist, retreat master, and a steadfast defender of and advocate for the Catholic Church that he loved so much.
The members of his religious family saw all these things in him, too.
But even more, we were also blessed to know him as a father who cared for each of us, a father who was always accessible when we needed him and always glad to see us when we came to visit. 

The words of a fellow Franciscan, Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, describing St. Francis, characterize Fr. Benedict well: “His intuition of a universal brotherhood, extending to every creature, accompanied by his choice of minority, turn him and his followers into the brothers of every person, the enemies of none, and the companions of the least ones.” 

Fr. Benedict was a brother and a father to everyone he encountered.
In a world often overwhelmed with darkness, he was a man filled with hope, a hope that he shared with both the rich and poor alike.
His love for others and deep desire to serve, sent him among poor families who were in need of assistance, young people trying to find their way, bishops faced with challenging decisions, priests and religious in need of an encouraging word, and the stranger who was far from God.

Fr. Benedict was at home in every circumstance and every encounter.

“The providence of God,” he would say, “was the mystery of God reaching out at every moment and revealing his love and presence to us all.” 

It is not an exaggeration to say that Fr. Benedict was selfless.
Those who knew him well understood that it was simply his nature to be so.
He poured himself out for others no matter what the cost; and sometimes the cost to him was very great.
To have known him was to have been helped by him and even loved by him.

Our CFR Family and everyone who knew him received an enormous amount from Fr. Benedict, probably more than we were ever able to give back.
It was not simply his wealth of wisdom and knowledge from which many benefited; it was his profound faith and equally profound love, two gifts that he never failed to share generously. 
Join with us in praying for the repose of the soul of Fr. Benedict, for his family and Community, and also in thanksgiving for the legacy of renewal within the Church and Franciscan family that Fr. Benedict championed."

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