Fr. Duffy

October 30, 1918 - March 21, 2009

FR. VINCENT DUFFY, S.D.B. (1918-2009)             Fr. Vincent Duffy, S.D.B., died in the early hours of the morning of Mar. 21, 2009, at Preakness Healthcare Center in Wayne, N.J. He was 90 years old. Fr. Duffy was born in New York City, in Upper Manhattan, on Oct. 30, 1918. His parents were John and Catherine McPhillips Duffy. He was baptized at St. Catherine of Genoa Church on W. 153 Street on Dec. 18 that same year, and confirmed there as well in 1930. Not quite 15 years old, Vince entered the Salesian high school seminary in Newton, N.J., in 1933, whence he was admitted to the novitiate in 1937. A year later, on Sept. 8, 1938, he made his first religious profession. He was graduated from Don Bosco College in Newton in 1941 with a B.A. in philosophy. Brother Duffy did three years of practical training as a teacher at Salesian High School in New Rochelle from 1941 to 1944 before commencing his theological studies in Newton. He was ordained in Newton on June 29, 1948. Fr. Duffy’s first priestly assignment was to Mary Help of Christians School in Tampa as prefect of studies (1948-1952). He would serve there thrice more, as director from 1965 to 1966 and 1967 to 1971, vice principal in 1971-1972, and vice director from 1982 to 1984. Fr. Duffy also served as director at Don Bosco Tech in Boston (1959-1965), the provincial residence in New Rochelle (1966-1967), Mary Help of Christians Church in Manhattan (1974-1980), and St. Kieran’s Church in Miami (1984-1987); he was also pastor of the latter two parishes. Fr. Duffy was prefect of studies at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, N.J. (1952-1953), and associate pastor at Holy Rosary (1972-1974) and Corpus Christi (1980-1982) churches in Port Chester, N.Y. At St. Anthony’s Church in Paterson, N.J., he served as pastor (1987-1990) and associate pastor (1990-2002). At the province level, Fr. Duffy was vocation director for six years (1953-1959), working from the provincial residence and finding countless youths to recommend to the flourishing seminary programs in Newton, Ipswich, Cedar Lake, Paterson, and Haverstraw, many of whom persevered to become professed Salesians. In 1966 he was appointed vice provincial, the first confrere in the New Rochelle Province to hold the newly created position; he served only one year, however. In 2002 Fr. Duffy retired to the provincial residence, where in March 2008 he suffered a debilitating stroke that required him to enter a nursing care facility. Fr. Duffy is survived by several nephews and nieces. Funeral services will take place at the chapel of Don Bosco Prep High School, 492 N. Franklin Tpk., Ramsey, N.J. 07446. Wake: Monday, March 23, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. with Rosary at 4:30 p.m.; 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial: Monday, March 23, 7:00 p.m. Fr. Duffy will be buried in the Salesian Cemetery in Goshen, N.Y., on Tuesday, March 24, at 10:00 a.m. Arrangements by Scillieri Funeral Home, Paterson, N.J. (www.scillierifh.com)