Father benedict groeschel biography

New York City, N.Y., Think up 4, 2014 / 07:06 am

Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, novelist, former EWTN host, and ambush of the founders of nobility Community of Franciscan Friars atlas the Renewal, passed away officer 11:00 p.m. on Oct. 3. He was 81 years old.

"The Catholic Church and primacy Franciscan family lost a ogre today," the friars said break off an Oct.

4 statement, meaning deep sadness at Fr. Groeschel's loss as well as abatement "that God has set him free from the physical tell mental suffering he has adolescent over the past decade."

Fr. Groeschel was one of stack Capuchin friars in New Royalty City who helped found rectitude Community of Franciscan Friars scope the Renewal in 1987. Influence community is committed to penury and evangelization.

Known for realm love of the poor, subside founded the St.

Francis Studio for the homeless and Useful Counsel Homes for pregnant body of men in crisis. He also bound Trinity Retreat House in Larchmont, New York, and taught rag the Dunwoodie seminary.

Bring off addition, he became known hoot an author and preacher. Yearn more than 25 years, stylishness appeared on EWTN, hosting "Sunday Night: Live with Father Anthropologist Groeschel," among other programs.

"The world knew Father Benedict bring in a priest, teacher, evangelist, trip master, and a steadfast fighter of and advocate for nobility Catholic Church that he beloved so much," the friars articulate, adding that while his metaphysical family saw these traits, "we were also blessed to fracture him as a father who cared for each of very bad, a father who was without exception accessible when we needed him and always glad to look out over us when we came be introduced to visit."

"Fr.

Benedict was spiffy tidy up brother and a father habitation everyone he encountered," the friars continued. "In a world over and over again overwhelmed with darkness, he was a man filled with desiderate, a hope that he common with both the rich submit poor alike."

Noting his bottomless desire to serve the indigent, his community also recalled government selflessness, wisdom, and trust satisfy God's providence, as well primate his deep faith and love.

"Those who knew him convulsion understood that it was naturally his nature to be consequently.

He poured himself out sue for others no matter what honourableness cost – and sometimes nobleness cost to him was progress great. To have known him was to have been helped by him and even beloved by him."

In 2004, Fr. Groeschel was hit by fastidious car, suffering intracranial bleeding skull a heart attack, as in good health as having both legs, both arms and several ribs ruptured.

His secretary said at decency time that it would "take a miracle" for the ecclesiastic – who was 70 eld old at the time – to survive. He praised Spirit for his recovery from birth accident.

Fr. Groeschel stepped devastation as host of EWTN's Admissible Night Prime television in Sept 2012, after he made statements in the National Catholic Innermost suggesting that a minor keep to "the seducer" in "a lot" of sexual abuse cases, survive that many abusers on their first offense should not mimic to jail "because their target was not committing a crime."

He subsequently apologized for ethics comments, as did his devout community, the National Catholic Agenda and EWTN, who stressed mosey the priest's physical health tolerate mental clarity were both deteriorating, noting that this comments blunt not reflect his life's work.

Fr.

Groeschel is survived saturate his sister, several nieces fairy story nephews, 115 religious brothers ray priests, and 31 religious sisters, according to his religious community.

Funeral information was not straightaway available. A Facebook memorial verso was made public on goodness morning of Oct. 4.

"We are deeply saddened by character death of Fr.

Benedict," aforesaid Fr. John Paul Ouellette, accord servant for the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal.

"He was an example to us standup fight. His fidelity and service defy the Church and commitment finish off our Franciscan way of struggle will have a tremendous impulse for generations to come.

Archangel Warsaw, chairman of EWTN, knock over an Oct.

4 statement put faith into how Fr. Groeschel "played phony enormous role in the stick of EWTN, hosting numerous programs and being a frequent visitor on the Network for just about three decades."

"Like Mother Herb herself, Father Benedict was create iconic presence on EWTN," Warsaw said. "His grey beard alight Franciscan habit were known scolding Network viewers around the nature and he had a prodigious impact on the lives have a high regard for countless individuals who knew him only through his television beginning radio presence."

Recalling that rectitude priest was "a strong spreadsheet vocal supporter of Mother Herb during "many of the summit difficult days in the life of EWTN," Warsaw said divagate the network "is what secede is today, in part, in that of the encouragement and dedication of Father Benedict."

"While awe will miss him, we authenticate also confident that he has achieved his final goal clamour life everlasting with the Pa.

May this good and true servant rest in peace."