Rev. William Francis Gaffney, C.Ss.R. Obituary

Rev. William Francis Gaffney, C.Ss.R., died on September 13, 2020. He was born on August 28, 1934, the child of Stephen F. Gaffney and Elizabeth Gaffney (Metro). He was baptized on September 9, 1934 and confirmed June 18, 1946 in the Church of St. Pascal Baylon, St. Albans, NY. He also attended the parish grammar school.

He studied at St. Mary’s Seminary-College at North East, PA (1948 to 1954). Hi Novitiate was at St. Mary’s Ilchester, MD and his profession on August 2, 1955. College and Theology was at Mt. St.  Alphonsus, (1956-1961). Ordination on June 19, 1960 at Mt. St. Alphonsus, Esopus, NY.  He made Tirocinium at St. Mary’s Annapolis 1961-1962.

In 1962 his first assignment was to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Brooklyn, NY as part of a Mission Band. In 1973 he moved to Suffield, CT to work with Marriage Encounter, USA. His next assignment (1978-1981) he was part of a Mission Band working from St. Clement Mission House in Ephrata, PA (1981-1987). There he was pastor to Our Lady of Lourdes, New Holland.

January 1987 he was transferred to St. Peter’s Church in Philadelphia on a Mission Band. In 1988 he moved to Notre Dame Retreat House in Canandaigua, NY (1988-1990) as Director and Superior replacing a Director/Superior who became sick.

1990-1996 saw him serving on a Mission Band at St. Peter’s Parish in Philadelphia. 1996-2009 he was at Immaculate Conception Parish in New York City again preaching missions. 2009-2019 saw him at San Alfonso Retreat House, Long Branch, NJ. August 2019-November 2019 he located to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Brooklyn, NY for health assistance. November 2019 he was transferred to St. Alphonsus Villa, New Smyrna Beach, FL due to construction at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Brooklyn, NY for continued health care.

Fr. William Gaffney worked tirelessly to strengthen marriages through his work with the Marriage Encounter Movement and to strengthen families through Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.