Br. Jeremy Harrington reflects on a life of Franciscan service
Author: Eli Pacheco
Date Published: October 07, 2025
Life’s changes sometimes challenge our serenity, but one dedicated Franciscan found lasting peace – even during the many changes inspired by the Second Vatican Council – by listening to other people’s lived experiences.
At 93 and nearing retirement, Br. Jeremy Harrington, OFM, reflects on his life as a friar, a ministry shaped by religious and lay people from all corners of the Church.
“I have been greatly enriched,” said Br. Jeremy, associate pastor at Transfiguration Parish in Southfield, Michigan, serving with Br. Jeff Scheeler, OFM, Br. Philip Wilhelm, OFM, and Br. Raphael Ozoude, OFM.
This 12-year tenure is the latest ministry in a life that has included a writing career with St. Anthony Messenger magazine, pastoral and guardian positions, teaching at Roger Bacon High School in Cincinnati and serving as Provincial Minister for the legacy St. John the Baptist Province.
“I’ve had the blessing of working with different sizes of communities, some missionary, in different parts of the world,” Br. Jeremy said. “It’s a deepening of why I’m a Franciscan and what I’ve tried to do, and gaining a deeper knowledge of St. Francis and his works.”
Br. Jeremy Harrington, who identifies as a lifelong Franciscan, was inspired to join the Order by the Franciscan sisters and friars in his parish growing up. (Photo courtesy of Br. Jeff Scheeler, OFM)
A born Franciscan
Br. Jeremy, the youngest of eight and a farmer's son, attended a high school seminary. He spent summers working on the farm with his father.
A self-proclaimed “born Franciscan,” Br. Jeremy was inspired to join the Order by the Franciscan sisters and friars in his parish.
The late Fr. Leonard Foley, OFM, an English teacher and editor at St. Anthony Messenger, a product of Franciscan Media, befriended Br. Jeremy and recruited him as a writer while Br. Jeremy was teaching.
“I’m young and enjoying life,” Br. Jeremy replied to the invitation. “Maybe when I am older.” The provincial minister had different plans. After a year as a reporter, Br. Jeremy was sent to earn his master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
Upon returning to full-time work at the Messenger, with a circulation he estimates at 300,000, he began working more closely with laypeople, who inspired him to broaden his feel for the world.
Throughout his evolution as a Franciscan friar, Br. Jeremy Harrington, OFM, has met so many influential people in his travels – and even one famous hare. (Photo courtesy of Br. Jeff)
Vatican II and ‘Catholic Update’
Br. Jeremy became a friar during the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), a pivotal period when the Church reshaped its relationship with the modern world and other religions and set off a process of deep transformation within the Church itself.
The shift led to Franciscan Media publishing Catholic Update, a source for parishes about the changes happening within the Church. As Br. Jeremy worked on creating Catholic Update, it paralleled his adaptation to the changes brought by Vatican II.
“It was an interesting time for the Church and also for me,” he said. “We had college students working for us going for their degrees, along with older men and women and their viewpoints. It was a great time to be in Catholic journalism.”
Mixed with his pastoral experience, this era marked a renaissance for Br. Jeremy.
“I grew because I was dealing with many people and views, and there was travel involved,” he said. The magazine “tried to answer questions people had to give the Church’s viewpoint in understandable language.”
Br. Jeremy Harrington, OFM, is associate pastor at Transfiguration Parish, with Br. Jeff Scheeler, OFM, who is pastor, pictured here. Br. Jeremy has served 12 years at Transfiguration and will retire this year. (Photo courtesy of Br. Jeff)
A powerful pastoral year
As guardian of the Franciscan Monastery in Washington, D.C., Br. Jeremy worked with clergy and missionaries, broadening his understanding of the global Church. A visit to the Holy Land further developed his faith and outlook.
After being ordained in 1959, he spent a pastoral year serving in Franciscan parishes on weekends, joining lay people to understand their perspectives and challenges. He also led retreats and assisted in hospitals under the guidance of diocesan priests.
“For the study of moral theology, which was changing in the Church, it helped to get people’s viewpoint, not just from academia,” he said. “It was a helpful part of my formation.”
Life as a provincial minister served a similar role. The legacy St. John the Baptist Province had more than 300 friars serving in 12 states, on the Navajo Nation and in missions in some Asian countries.
Leading the province “gave me a humbling and informative view of the Church and of the world,” he said.
Br. Jeremy Harrington, OFM, has spent a lifetime building connections and relationships, not the least of which have formed at Transfiguration Church – with all forms of God’s creation. (Photo courtesy of Br. Jeff)
Retiring, but not quitting
Twelve years ago, Br. Jeremy relocated to Michigan to serve at Transfiguration Parish. Now in his 90s, he's scheduled to retire soon.
His service – and especially the relationships built here – will make the transition difficult, Br. Jeremy confesses. His parish has become his family.
“I don’t want to be sitting around in a retirement community asking myself, ‘what am I going to do?’” he said. “I have a different viewpoint now. I’ll have opportunities to function as a Franciscan and as a priest, more at my leisure.
“I went through a discernment process,” he continued. “Our present (provincial) administration asked what they felt God was calling me to do now. I’m here to help with confessions and Mass. I feel God saying, ‘it’s time, Jeremy.’”