Harold Anthony Murphy was born August 29, 1900 in Buffalo, New York also see alternate Timeline View of His Life

Harold Murphy (Canisius) became a Jesuit priest.  There is a picture with his sister Agnes and his parents… possibly taken at the seminary in Hyde Park, New York at his Ordination June 23, 1935.

Left to Right Raymond Joseph, Agnes Rita (McNulty), James Aloysius, James Henry, Harold with niece Ann McNulty, William McNulty, Dorthy (Tom’s wife), Thomas Patrick

He spent his lifetime building new churches and parishes in the Philippines.  The WWII  years were spent in the area of Cagayan de Oro. (see map)

 Fr. Harold corresponded frequently with brother Tom and also Raymond.  The Japanese occupation made his life difficult and dangerous.  The book Guerrilla Padre In Mindanao by Edward Haggerty mentions Fr. Harold as one of the guerrilla padres he visited in May, 1943 on  Cagayan, Mindano during the war; on page 123:

It was dark when we reached the convento, and Father Harold Murphy was not there.  In fact, we were the only souls in town.  Our baggage, however, had preceded us in the old soap and fish banca, so we had our blankets, mosquito nets, and Mass kit.  A boy sent down by Father Murphy with our supper came through the pitch black of a storm which constantly quenched his torch.  

I said Mass in the well-built church with a congregation of one.  Then we found Father Murphy, back behind a screen of hills and marshy streams.  He was clean-shaven, his reddish hair was neatly trimmed, his white cassock was immaculate, his speech was quiet and even, his drollery was unimpaired.  Breakfast was served out on a small porch with embroidered cloth, fresh napkins, good and complete tableware. I unused now to these niceties, felt uncomfortably that I must watch my manners.

The following newspaper article was written during that period:

And while at Jasaan.     Assigned to Salay, Misamis Oriental.

After Jasaan, Fr. Harold was Pastor at Salay, Impasugong, Linabo,  and Gitagum.  These parishs were all part of  the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro.   Jesuits play a large role in the (85%) Catholic Philippine population.

He returned to Buffalo only once in his lifetime 7/1962-1/1963 to visit family, and receive medical attention.

He celebrated masses at Canisius for old friends and family.  He returned to the island of Mindano in the Philippines.  

From Jeff,  the grounds of the Novitiate:In August of 1969, cancer  forced him to the Singian Clinic, Manila where he died on January 5, 1970.  Fr. Arthur F. Shea, a fellow seminarian,  gave a moving homily during the Funeral Mass held January 7.  Burial followed in the Jesuit cemetery at the Sacred Heart Novitiate located in  Novaliches, Quezon City, on the island of Luzon, Philippine Islands.

MEMORIES OF "MURPH"

    Whence a vocation? Irish on father's side, Scotch-Irish on mother's;  three grand-aunts nuns, three uncles priests, O.M.I.; two cousins priests, two nuns.  Father served daily Mass until his death in 1949.  "H" taught "Sunday School" as a young layman.

    Whence the name "H"?  As a novice, to distinguish him from Brother G.  Murphy.  

Fr. L. Welch

    At St. Andrews, where at that time we were so serious, I was passing "H" in the corridor, when he dropped a pocket watch.  I thought I had caused him to drop it.  He leaned down, picked up the pieces and with a straight face said: "No harm done, I'll fix it tonight."  I did not know 'til afterwards that it was a trick watch.

Fr. T. Duross

    Scene:  LHS Frs.' Rec Room.  Philosophy prof::  Well, Fr. Murphy, how do your Malaybalay parishioners feel about phenomenology?"  Father M.:  "Great!  They practice it in the plaza all day long."

A Special  Thanks to Fr. William Abbott, S.J.,   Socius to the Provincial and Province Secretary, for supplying information about my Uncle.             Tom Murphy.  9/30/2006.