Father Joseph Griffin, CSP, was born Nov. 29, 1914, in South Boston, Massachusetts, to a family of three sisters and four brothers. After graduation from the local public schools, he worked as a grocery clerk for several years before going to the Paulist minor seminary in Baltimore in 1935. He studied at St. Charles College for four years and completed the novitiate in 1940. He was ordained a Catholic priest on December 18, 1946, in a class of ten that included Fathers Frank McGough, Harold Foye, Al Roy, Leo Conlin, Walter Dalton, Ed Gory, Arthur McGuire and Frank Diskin.
Father Joe spent three and a half years on the staff at St. Philip Neri parish in Portland, Oregon and then went to Old St. Mary's church in Chicago for ten years from 1950 to 1960, serving both in the parish and on the mission band. His next assignment was to St. Patrick's Parish in Memphis for one year as superior, followed by another year at St. Ann's Parish in Boston as procurator. He served also as procurator at Oak Ridge for two years. In September 1963, he resumed the mission apostolate in Los Angeles.
Father Joe returned to Boston in 1965 where he remained for the rest of his life. After five years on the missions and the chapel staff at the Paulist Center, he moved to St. Ann's parish in 1970. He returned to Park Street when the Paulists left the Back Bay parish in 1979. He remained active even in his retirement years, presiding at daily Mass with the Park Street community and on weekends at Saint William's Church in Dorchester. He continued to be a pastoral presence even in his very last years, while living at the Jeanne Jugan Residence in Somerville. Father Griffin passed away in Boston on January 5, 2003, at the age of 88, having served for 56 years in the Paulist priesthood.
Eulogist Father Richard Colgan, CSP, commented: "He had a warm laugh that all of us Paulists at the Park Street community heard often in our hallways, living room, and dining room. Joe was a vibrant extrovert, very much interested in others and their lives and situations. This also included an attentiveness and awareness to what was happening in the wider Church, society, and world. The number of people who sought out Joe for wisdom and advice is indicative of how many saw him as a Christ-like presence. Throughout his 56 years of Paulist ministry Joe heard the missionary call to be Christ-like in his words and deeds."
Father Joe spent three and a half years on the staff at St. Philip Neri parish in Portland, Oregon and then went to Old St. Mary's church in Chicago for ten years from 1950 to 1960, serving both in the parish and on the mission band. His next assignment was to St. Patrick's Parish in Memphis for one year as superior, followed by another year at St. Ann's Parish in Boston as procurator. He served also as procurator at Oak Ridge for two years. In September 1963, he resumed the mission apostolate in Los Angeles.
Father Joe returned to Boston in 1965 where he remained for the rest of his life. After five years on the missions and the chapel staff at the Paulist Center, he moved to St. Ann's parish in 1970. He returned to Park Street when the Paulists left the Back Bay parish in 1979. He remained active even in his retirement years, presiding at daily Mass with the Park Street community and on weekends at Saint William's Church in Dorchester. He continued to be a pastoral presence even in his very last years, while living at the Jeanne Jugan Residence in Somerville. Father Griffin passed away in Boston on January 5, 2003, at the age of 88, having served for 56 years in the Paulist priesthood.
Eulogist Father Richard Colgan, CSP, commented: "He had a warm laugh that all of us Paulists at the Park Street community heard often in our hallways, living room, and dining room. Joe was a vibrant extrovert, very much interested in others and their lives and situations. This also included an attentiveness and awareness to what was happening in the wider Church, society, and world. The number of people who sought out Joe for wisdom and advice is indicative of how many saw him as a Christ-like presence. Throughout his 56 years of Paulist ministry Joe heard the missionary call to be Christ-like in his words and deeds."
Father Joseph Griffin, CSP, was born Nov. 29, 1914, in South Boston, Massachusetts, to a family of three sisters and four brothers. After graduation from the local public schools, he worked as a grocery clerk for several years before going to the Paulist minor seminary in Baltimore in 1935. He studied at St. Charles College for four years and completed the novitiate in 1940. He was ordained a Catholic priest on December 18, 1946, in a class of ten that included Fathers Frank McGough, Harold Foye, Al Roy, Leo Conlin, Walter Dalton, Ed Gory, Arthur McGuire and Frank Diskin.
Father Joe spent three and a half years on the staff at St. Philip Neri parish in Portland, Oregon and then went to Old St. Mary's church in Chicago for ten years from 1950 to 1960, serving both in the parish and on the mission band. His next assignment was to St. Patrick's Parish in Memphis for one year as superior, followed by another year at St. Ann's Parish in Boston as procurator. He served also as procurator at Oak Ridge for two years. In September 1963, he resumed the mission apostolate in Los Angeles.
Father Joe returned to Boston in 1965 where he remained for the rest of his life. After five years on the missions and the chapel staff at the Paulist Center, he moved to St. Ann's parish in 1970. He returned to Park Street when the Paulists left the Back Bay parish in 1979. He remained active even in his retirement years, presiding at daily Mass with the Park Street community and on weekends at Saint William's Church in Dorchester. He continued to be a pastoral presence even in his very last years, while living at the Jeanne Jugan Residence in Somerville. Father Griffin passed away in Boston on January 5, 2003, at the age of 88, having served for 56 years in the Paulist priesthood.
Eulogist Father Richard Colgan, CSP, commented: "He had a warm laugh that all of us Paulists at the Park Street community heard often in our hallways, living room, and dining room. Joe was a vibrant extrovert, very much interested in others and their lives and situations. This also included an attentiveness and awareness to what was happening in the wider Church, society, and world. The number of people who sought out Joe for wisdom and advice is indicative of how many saw him as a Christ-like presence. Throughout his 56 years of Paulist ministry Joe heard the missionary call to be Christ-like in his words and deeds."
Father Joe spent three and a half years on the staff at St. Philip Neri parish in Portland, Oregon and then went to Old St. Mary's church in Chicago for ten years from 1950 to 1960, serving both in the parish and on the mission band. His next assignment was to St. Patrick's Parish in Memphis for one year as superior, followed by another year at St. Ann's Parish in Boston as procurator. He served also as procurator at Oak Ridge for two years. In September 1963, he resumed the mission apostolate in Los Angeles.
Father Joe returned to Boston in 1965 where he remained for the rest of his life. After five years on the missions and the chapel staff at the Paulist Center, he moved to St. Ann's parish in 1970. He returned to Park Street when the Paulists left the Back Bay parish in 1979. He remained active even in his retirement years, presiding at daily Mass with the Park Street community and on weekends at Saint William's Church in Dorchester. He continued to be a pastoral presence even in his very last years, while living at the Jeanne Jugan Residence in Somerville. Father Griffin passed away in Boston on January 5, 2003, at the age of 88, having served for 56 years in the Paulist priesthood.
Eulogist Father Richard Colgan, CSP, commented: "He had a warm laugh that all of us Paulists at the Park Street community heard often in our hallways, living room, and dining room. Joe was a vibrant extrovert, very much interested in others and their lives and situations. This also included an attentiveness and awareness to what was happening in the wider Church, society, and world. The number of people who sought out Joe for wisdom and advice is indicative of how many saw him as a Christ-like presence. Throughout his 56 years of Paulist ministry Joe heard the missionary call to be Christ-like in his words and deeds."
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