February 11 is the anniversary of Joseph A. Grifferty.

Joseph Aloysius Grifferty was born October 6, 1906, in Philadelphia, PA, to Patrick Grifferty and Mary Lamond. He had three brothers and two sisters. Baptized in Saint Stephen’s Church in Philadelphia, he attended Saint Francis Assisi grammar and high school in Germantown, graduation in 1923. He entered the Augustinian Order as a postulant at Villanova in September 1923 and was accepted as a novice on June 24, 1924. Upon completing his novitiate, he professed simple vows on June 26, 1925 and solemn vows three years later. In 1928 he graduated with an A.B. degree from Villanova University. Sent to study theology at the college of the Escorial in Madrid, Spain, he was ordained a priest in the Royal Monastery of the Escorial by the Bishop of Segovia on July 27, 1930. Father Griffert returned to this country to complete his graduate studies in Spanish at the Catholic University of America, Washington DC, which granted him a master’s degree in 1931.

Father Grifferty’s first assignment 1931-1932 was t Fox Valley High School, Aurora, IL and for the next 31 years his priestly life was devoted to the secondary education apostolate. After teaching for 2 years, 1932-1934, at Villanova Preparatory School in Ojai, CA, Father Grifferty began his 28 year association with Malvern Preparatory School, Malvern, PA. He taught Spanish and held various administrative positions. From 1956 to 1962 he was prior of the Augustinian community at Malvern. During those many years he was not merely a teacher but a friend and counselor. One of his former students, wishing to formalize his affection and gratitude, established the Father Grifferty Award for Excellence, granted yearly to a member of the senior class for exceptional effort. In 1962 Father began his parish ministry. He served as pastor and prior at Saint Denis, Havertown, PA, from 1962 to 1965, Saint Nicholas of Tolentine in the Bronx, NY, from 1965 to 1972, and as assistant pastor at Saint Mary’s Church, Lawrence, MA, where he was instrumental in establishing the ministry to the rapidly growing Hispanic community of the Merrimack Valley. In 1980 he was transferred to Saint Thomas Monastery on the campus of Villanova University, Villanova, PA. Although retired, Father Grifferty remained active, ministering to the spiritual needs of the Sisters of the Holy Child in nearby Rosemont, PA, administering the Sacrament of Reconciliation at Saint Joseph in the Hills Retreat House in Malvern, PA, and Saint John the Evangelist Church in downtown Philadelphia, where his fluent Spanish was greatly appreciated. On the campus of the University he as moderator of the Legion of Mary and became active in the Pro-Life Movement.

Father Griffert was an avid follower of the sports program at Villanova, especially basketball, where he, along with Fathers Conneen and Dunne, were familiar figures at all home games.
On July 27, 1990, Father observed 60 years as an Augustinian priest. Shortly after observing his 87th birthday on October 6, 1993, Father began to show signs of failing health. He died on February 11, 1994, at the Mercy Haverford Hospital.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on February 17, 1994, at Saint Thomas of Villanova Church. The celebrant was Father John J. Hagen, O.S.A.

†