Fr. Bede Abram, OFM Conv., son of Wilmon and Anna (Brown) Abram, was born on November 8, 1942, in Buffalo, NY He was educated at St. Mary's Parochial School and Bishop Ryan High School, Buffalo, NY. After much consideration and consultation, he expressed his intention of joining the Conventual Franciscans. Admitted to the community of the Franciscan Friars, he was sent to St. Joseph Cupertino Novitiate, Ellicott City, MD and professed his simple vows on August 15, 1962. Friar Bede's undergraduate studies were at St. Hyacinth College and Seminary, Granby, MA, from 1962 to 1966 where he earned his B.A. degree in philosophy. During those years, on August 15, 1965, he professed his solemn vows. The formation of the Friars who had graduated from St. Hyacinth included a year of teaching experience in one of the high schools of the Province, so from 1966 to 1967 Fr. Bede was assigned to Kolbe High School in Bridgeport, CT. He then studies theology from 1967 to 1971 at the theological seminary of the Immaculate Conception Province, St. Anthony-on-Hudson, Rensselaer, NY. He was ordained to the Holy Priesthood at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Albany, New York, on May 22, 1971, by the Most Reverend Edwin B. Broderick, Bishop of Albany.
Fr. Bede's Franciscan ministry embraced the parochial, education and college administrative apostolates. His parochial apostolate included: St. Bartholomew Parish, Camden, NJ (1976-1978); St. Francis of Assisi Community, Bessemer, AL (1979-1982); Our Lady of Blessed Sacrament Parish, Harrisburg, PA (1982-1983); and St. Anthony Parish, Atlanta, GA (1983). His education apostolate embraced: Kolbe High School, Bridgeport, CT (1974-1976); teacher and Advisor to Minority Students at Fordham University with residence at St. Adalbert's, Elmhurst, NY (1971-1974); ministry of Social Concerns at St. Stephen Social Center in Bridgeport, CT (1974-1976); the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University, New Orleans, LA (1984-1991). On November 12, 1989, the Mayor of New Orleans conferred on Fr. Bede the Title of Honorary Citizen.
After the death of Fr. Bede, the National Black Catholic Congress convened at the United States Catholic Conference in Washington, D.C., on January 24-25, 1991 and proclaimed the following: "The entire membership…recognize our brother Reverend Bede Abram – teacher, lecturer, revivalist, theologian – who had gone to glory, where now his quest for trust is satisfied and where his cup runneth over…he sang his way into the hearts of thousands…he expanded the mind and thinking of many…he challenged the thinking of all types of folks…he provided leadership at the Institute for Black Catholic Studies…he stirred the waters till others thirsted for knowledge; now therefore…we shall miss him as this life had us know him but know him even more as this life had been transformed and not taken away." Fr. Bede's earthly life ended on January 20, 1991, in Hotel Dieu Hospital, New Orleans, LA, in the 49th year of his life, 29th of his religious profession and 20th of his priesthood. A final tribute was afforded to Fr. Bede Abram by a Wake Service on January 23, 1991 and a concelebrated Liturgy of Christian Burial the following day at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Buffalo, NY. After the services, the mortal remains were laid to rest in St. Matthew Cemetery, Buffalo, NY. Thus ended the life and activities of the first Black priest in the Province of St. Anthony of Padua in the United States.