A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Butler, N.J., for Franciscan Father Bernard “Bernie” Creighton, who died Oct. 7. He was 86.
For more than 60 years, Father Creighton devoted his life to service, education, and pastoral ministry. He spent decades supporting the Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure University in St. Bonaventure, N.Y., an international center for research, publishing, and academia dedicated to studying the Franciscan intellectual tradition, history, and theology.
Father Creighton was born on Dec. 7, 1939, to Stanley and Helen Creighton (née Palizay). He was an only child, and his family ran a milk processing and delivery business in Elmira, N.Y.
The future Franciscan Friar attended Catholic grade school and high school in Elmira, N.Y. In 1961, he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from St. Bonaventure University, where he met the friars who inspired his vocation.
As a senior, Father Creighton was chosen to receive the 1961 Mark Hellinger Award, an annual recognition from St. Bonaventure University’s Jandoli School of Communication that honors outstanding academic achievement in journalism. However, Fr. Bernie declined the award for “up-and-coming journalists” because God was calling him to religious life.
Then, in 1991, Father Creighton received the honor he had earned as a college student three decades earlier.
At age 23, Father Creighton entered the Franciscan Order, professing first vows in 1963 and solemn vows in 1966. He was ordained a priest in 1967.
Father Creighton became a trusted source of knowledge about the history and traditions of the Franciscan community after serving from 1968 to 1972 as editor of the Provincial Annals, an archival periodical published by the legacy Holy Name Province.
From 1994 to 2026, Father Creighton served as vicar of the St. Anthony Friary in Butler, N.J., where he faithfully handled the daily needs of the friary community.
Father Creighton is remembered for being approachable, detailed, humble, knowledgeable, and deeply dedicated to others. He embraced the Franciscan ideals of simplicity, hospitality and service, believing that the best part of ministry was working with the people of God and helping them to live in the spirit of the Lord.
Father Creighton is survived by his friar brothers of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe; his cousins, Catherine Creighton Saal (Frank), Eugene Creighton (Patricia), James Creighton, Debbie Creighton, Tom Gilmore, Marilyn Lilly (Bill), James Ripley (Marilyn); and a cousin by marriage, Nancy Levanduski.
Visitation for Father Creighton will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15at 9:30 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Butler, N.J., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. in the church.
A Memorial Mass will be held on Monday, Oct. 19, at 11 a.m. at St. Bonaventure University Chapel in St. Bonaventure, N.Y. Burial will follow at St. Bonaventure Cemetery.
