Bro. Lawrence J. Hilferty, T.O.R., 67, of the Third Order Regular Franciscans of the Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, died suddenly Thursday morning, October 11, 2018 at St. Francis Friary-Mt. Assisi, Loretto, Pennsylvania. He was born March 12, 1951 in Germantown, PA, and was baptized at Immaculate Conception Church, Philadelphia, PA. He was the son of Miriam T. McHale Hilferty and the late Lawrence Hilferty. He attended St. Benedict Grade School, Philadelphia, and graduated from Bishop Mc Devitt High School, Wyncote, PA, in 1970.
On August 27, 1970, he entered the T.O.R. Community as a postulant. He started his novitiate on May 31, 1971, at Sacred Heart Monastery, Winchester, VA. Bro. Larry professed his simple vows on June 1, 1972 at Sacred Heart Monastery, Winchester, VA, and his solemn vows on June 1, 1975 at Immaculate Conception Chapel, Loretto, PA. In 1984, Bro. Larry received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies from St. Francis College (University), Loretto, PA. He did graduate study at Villanova University, Villanova, PA.
During his long and very faithful Franciscan life, Bro. Larry ministered in education. He served on the staff of St. Francis College (University), Loretto, PA, and St. Francis Prep, Spring Grove, PA. He served on the Board of Trustees of Saint Francis University. For thirty-three years, he taught at Bishop Egan High School – Conwell-Egan High School, Fairless Hills, PA. This high school was very near and dear to his heart, and he was involved with various activities at the high school. He was Regional Spiritual Assistant for the Saint Katherine Drexel Secular Franciscan Fraternity, Philadelphia. At the time of his death, he was serving on the staff of St. Francis University in the Advancement Office and Dorothy Day Outreach Center.
Bro. Larry was preceded in death by a sister Nancy Hilferty Krause. He is survived by his mother, Miriam T. McHale Hilferty, brothers Michael Hilferty, Daniel Hilferty, James Hilferty, Thomas Hilferty, and Kevin Hilferty, nieces and nephews and his Franciscan Brothers.
Friends were received at the Chapel of St. Francis Friary-Mt. Assisi, Loretto, PA at 4:00 p.m., on Tuesday, October 16, 2018. Vigil service was celebrated at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial was concelebrated on Wednesday, October 17, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Francis Friary-Mt. Assisi, Loretto, PA, with Very Rev. Richard L. Davis, T.O.R., Minister Provincial, as principal celebrant. Following the Mass, interment took place at the Franciscan Friars’ Cemetery, on the campus of St. Francis University, Loretto, PA.