It is with deep sorrow that we inform you of the death of our brother: Fr. Francisco Dolç Florit, TOR, of the Province of the Immaculate Conception of Spain.
Fr. Francisco Dolç Florit, was born in Santa María del Camí, Majorca, on October 13, 1923. Son of José and Rosa. He was baptized on October 14, 1923 and confirmed on May 7, 1928 in Santa María del Camí. He received the Franciscan habit on July 16, 1939 and made his Temporary Profession at Cura on July 29, 1940 and Solemn Profession on February 12, 1945 at Porziuncola.
He studied Humanities at La Porciúncula, Philosophy studies in Rome and Theology studies at La Porciúncula.
In 1944 he received the Minor Orders and the Subdiaconate on December 21, 1946 and the Diaconate on March 22, 1947 in Palma. He was ordained a priest on April 13, 1947 in Ciudadela, Menorca, by Bishop Bartolomé Pascual.
From 1947 until 1952 he was stationed in Valdepeñas (Ciudad Real) as Vicar Coadjutor and in 1952 he was sent as a missionary to Guaporé (Brazil) together with Br. Jerónimo Genovard. They were the first religious of our Province who began missionary work in those lands of Brazil.
After four years in Brazil, he was assigned in 1956 to the Commissariat of the United States. He resided in Waco, Texas, until 1961, when he was assigned to the city of Newark, New Jersey, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, as Vicar of the Parish and Treasurer of the Fraternity. In 1973, he was appointed local Minister of the Fraternity. In the Provincial Congregation of 1981, he was appointed pastor of the Parish of Elisabeth, New Jersey, and local Minister of the Fraternity until in the Provincial Congregation of 2005 he was assigned to the Convent of San Francisco de Inca, Mallorca, as Vicar of the Fraternity and he remained there until 2013, when he was assigned to the Fraternity of the Porziuncula.
In 2015 he published a book entitled Mis 50 años en América, in which he recollects in writing and through numerous photographs his missionary adventures and apostolic works in American lands.
In recent years, he has remained in the provincial infirmary of the convent of the Porciúncula de Mallorca, suffering from respiratory failure and progressive Alzheimer’s. Both the community and the nursing team have carefully cared for him and feel his departure.
On March 26, at noon, he was suddenly surprised by the visit of Sister Death at the age of 99.
On the 27th, his funeral took place in his hometown of Santa María del Camino and the next day he was buried in the cemetery of Inca.