Reverend Father William P. Linhares T.O.R., of the Third Order Regular Franciscans of the Province of the Immaculate Conception, USA died on Wednesday, 17 March 2021 in Hollidaysburg, PA.
He was born to Jesse and Mary (Correia) Linhares on 27 March 1947 in Taunton, MA.
Father William entered the Franciscan Community on 14 September 1978 and professed Solemn Vows 10 August 1984. He was ordained to the priesthood on 22 November 1984 in Wilmington, DE.
Father William—or Fr. Bill, as he was known to his friends—served the Church and the Franciscan Community in various roles. In the Diocese of Wilmington, DE, he worked in the Ministry of Evangelization. He was a Parochial Vicar in the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis, and directed retreat centers at St. Mary Star of the Sea in Key West in the Archdiocese of Miami, FL, and Priestfield Pastoral Center in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, WV. Fr. Bill also served in internal ministries in the Province as Director of Postulants, Associate Director of Novices, Vocation Director, Provincial Econome, and Provincial Counselor. In recent years, he was in residence at St. Bernardine Monastery and, at the time of his death, at Garvey Manor, both in Hollidaysburg, PA.
Fr. William was predeceased by his parents, his brothers, Jesse and Edward, and sisters, Mary Hartung and Eleanor McGreevy. He is survived by his siblings, Jeanne, Robert, Joseph, Elizabeth Newman, Thomas, Stephen, many nieces and nephews, friends, and his Franciscan Community.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on 23 March 2021 at10:30 AM at Saint Bernardine Monastery, Hollidaysburg, PA. There will be one hour of Visitation prior to the Mass. The Very Reverend Father Frank Scornaienchi, T.O.R., Minister Provincial, will be the principal celebrant and the Very Reverend Father Robert J. D’Aversa, TOR will be the homilist. Interment will follow in the Community Cemetery at Saint Bernardine Monastery.