Catholic Arena

THE IRISH CATHOLIC PRIEST AT THE CENTRE OF WORLD CUP CELEBRATIONS If you have been watching social media for the past couple of weeks, you will have seen the amazing scenes coming from the World Cup in North America Some of the most amazing have been in Times Square on New York, where they fans have been surrounded by a statue of the most decorated chaplain in US history That man is an Irish priest born in North America named Father Francis Duffy Duffy was born in Ontario, Canada in 1871 to Patrick and Mary Duffy His grandparents had hailed from Monaghan and Roscommon and had left Ireland during the mass starvation of the 1840s and 1850s Duffy studied at Saint Joseph's Seminary in New York He was an accomplished student, teacher and priest, earning a doctorate from the Catholic University of America and founding a parish in the Bronx His later involvement in the armed forces would define his priesthood When World War I broke out, Duffy was chaplain for the Irish American Fighting 69th Brigade, composed of men from the Bronx Duffy was revered by the men, he accompanied them with hearing confessions and administering Last Rites Fr. Duffy was more than just a chaplain He was beside them in the trenches with the men and was amongst them as they fought and in many cases, died General Douglas McArthur once said that Duffy was even considered for the role of commander Fr. Duffy was known for hosting long confession lines at the trenches and for recovering bodies from No Man's Land Following his military career, Duffy helped politician Al Smith in his political career Al Smith was the first Catholic to be nominated for President and was subjected to horrific anti Catholicism and anti Irish racism Smith was able to leverage their friendship and point out Duffy's patriotism to critics of Catholicism 25,000 people attended Duffy's funeral in 1932 He was described as 'a priest, a scholar, a soldier. His name had become a household word, because of the nobility of his life and the valor of his deeds. Thousands looked up to him and he was venerated by many' In 1937, the statue of Father Francis Duffy was unveiled in Times Square in New York It is fitting that this great man, who embodies the greatness of the story of America should be at the centre of the celebrations of people from all across the world @CatholicArena