Born Philip Duffy on April 26, 1896 in Braddock, Pennsylvania, he was the son of James Duffy and Mary O’Toole. He graduated from St. Brendan’s High grade school then attended St. Mary’s Prep College, St. Mary’s, Kentucky. Then he served briefly in the Army during World War I. He then went for several years to St. Francis Seminary, Loretto, Pennsylvania and in 1922 entered the Passionist novitiate in Pittsburgh where he professed his vows on January 9, 1923 and received the religious name Raphael. He was ordained on March 12, 1927. He was an active preacher until he had a heart attack in the later 1950s. He was always neat and meticulous in his personal appearance and would keep the members of his community entertained with stories about his preaching experience. In the 1960s he retired to the Pittsburgh monastery. In January 1972 he had a second heart attack followed by a broken hip. Thus he was moved to St. Vincent’s Nursing Home where after a short hospitalization in December 1972 he returned to live his final days.
Birth Date:
April 26, 1896
Profession Date:
January 9, 1923
Ordination Date:
March 12, 1927
Death Date:
February 16, 1973
Religious Name:
Raphael of the Sacred Heart Duffy