1868 – 1936 (November 20)
Frederick Stephen Riordan was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on December 25, 1868, and was baptized on the same day at Saint Mary’s Church there. He entered the novitiate at Villanova, Pennsylvania, on September 3, 1891 but, at the death of his mother in December, he left the novitiate to return home. He returned in January, 1892 and began his novitiate again on February 10th of that year. He made his simple profession on February 11, 1893 and was solemnly professed on February 13, 1896. Following studies, he was ordained to the priesthood on May 3, 1896 by Archbishop Patrick Ryan in the Philadelphia Cathedral.
After ordination, Father Riordan was assigned to Our Mother of Consolation Parish, Chestnut Hill, PA, where he remained until 1902 when he was transferred to Immaculate Conception Parish, Hoosick Falls. The following year he was assigned to Saint Paul’s Parish, Mechanicville, New York. In 1907, he was appointed rector at Saint Augustine’s, Andover, and remained there 11 years. During his pastorate he purchased property and built the parish elementary school. In 1918, Father Riordan became pastor of St. Laurence Parish, Lawrence, MA., and in 1929 returned to Hoosick Falls. In 1932, he took up residence again at Saint Laurence.Later he served as rector at Andover, Mass.; Saint Laurence’s in Lawrence, Mass.
It was during his last assignment at Saint Laurence, that Father Riordan died in Holy Ghost Hospital, Cambridge, Mass., from the effects of diabetes, on November 20, 1936 at the age of 68. His Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated by Prior Provincial Mortimer Sullivan, O.S.A. on Monday, November 23rd, after which Father Riordan was buried in Saint Mary’s Cemetery, Lawrence.
