Biography of Fr. Patrick Boyle, O.F.M., Newly-Elected Provincial Minister, Province of the Immaculate Conception.
Fr. Patrick was born in Easton, Pennsylvania in 1952, son of Eugene and Marian Souders. He attended Phillipsburg Catholic High School in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. After graduating, he entered the formation program of the Franciscan Province in September, 1971 at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Troy, New York. He was received into the Franciscan Order as a novice at Saint Anthony Friary, Catskill, New York on August 15, 1975, and professed first vows on August 21, 1976. He began priesthood studies at Saint John Seminary, Brighton, Massachusetts, where the province had its post-novitiate theology house. He was ordained to the diaconate on February 16, 1980. His assignment as a deacon was Saint Anthony of Padua Church, New York City.
He was ordained a priest on October 18, 1980 by Bishop Lawrance Graziano, O.F.M., D.D. For his first assignment as a priest, he remained at St. Anthony’s, being assigned as associate pastor. He was named pastor there in 1986 and served there until 1992. From 1992 to 1998, he was Chaplain and Pastoral Care Minister at Cabrini Nursing Home, Dobbs Ferry, New York. In 1995, in addition to his Cabrini assignment, he was elected Guardian of Siena Friary, Mount Vernon, New York.
In 1998 Fr. Patrick was transferred to the Provincial Curia in Manhattan as staff member and communications director for the province, and in 2000 named Vicar Provincial of the Province. He served there until 2010, when he was named Pastor of Our Lady of Peace Church, Brooklyn, New York. In 2016 he was again elected Vicar Provincial and also served for a time as Secretary of the Province.
Fr. Patrick brings a wealth of experience and talent to his new office as Provincial Minister.