Br. Michael Thomas Duffy, OFM Conv., 65, a Franciscan Friar of Our Lady of the Angels Province, was met by Sister Death on Friday, December 6, 2024, in Baltimore, Md.
Born in Baltimore on January 28, 1959, he was a son of the late John and Patricia Anne (nee McGinnis) Duffy. He is survived by his younger sister, Karen, younger brother, Joseph, and a niece and nephew.
Michael graduated from Archbishop Curley High School in 1977, entering the Novitiate of the Franciscan Friars Conventual and making his first profession of vows on Aug. 15, 1978. His solemn profession of vows occurred on June 29, 1982.
From 1982 to 1986, Br. Michael was assigned to Holyoke, Mass., where years, he earned his B.S.N. from American International College, served as pastoral associate of Mater Dolorosa Parish, and taught junior high at the parish school. He then spent two years completing advance studies at the University of Lowell, whence he earned his M.S.N. in 1988. Between 1988 and 1997, Br. Michael worked as an assistant professor of Nursing at the College of Our Lady of the Elms, served as advisor to the brothers in formation, and enjoyed several stints spearheading the annual Garden Party at St. Hyacinth College Seminary in Granby.
In 1997, Br. Michael was appointed vocation director of the legacy St. Anthony of Padua Province, as well as associate director of Candidates in Philadelphia, where he resided through 2002, when the home base of vocation operations moved to Baltimore. At that time, he also became animator of the province’s Franciscan Youth Ministry efforts.
Catching the mission bug, in 2005 he became one of the friars to establish the former Franciscan mission in Above-Rocks, Jamaica. After six years in the missions, Br. Michael returned to Massachusetts, residing in Chicopee while teaching nursing at Elms College and pursuing a doctoral degree from Regis University. He remained in Chicopee for a decade, before ministering as principal of St. Francis High School in Hamburg, N.Y., from 2021-22. Br. Michael’s final assignment was to Ellicott City, Md., where he worked in the province Finance Office, acted as manager of Province Cemeteries, ministered at The Franciscan Center of Baltimore, and shared his renowned gift of cooking with the friars of St. Joseph of Cupertino Friary.
Visitation hours will be held Tuesday, Dec. 10, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Shrine of Saint Anthony, 12290 Folly Quarter Road, Ellicott City, Md., with a Franciscan Wake Service at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m., at the Shrine of Saint Anthony, followed by burial in Saint Stanislaus Cemetery, Baltimore. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Franciscan Education Burse (12300 Folly Quarter Road, Ellicott City MD 21042).
