Fr. Peter Damian Fehlner, OFM Conv., was born in 1931, and passed away on 8 May 8 2018. Father Peter Damian entered the Franciscan Friars Conventual Novitiate in Middleburgh, NY in 1951; he professed his Solemn Vows on 1 November 1955. He was ordained to the priesthood on 14 July 1957 at the Basilica of St. Alessio in Rome, Italy. An avid scholar, he received a Doctoral Degree (S.T.D.) from the Seraphicum (Rome) in 1959. His dissertation was entitled "The Role of Charity in the Ecclesiology of St. Bonaventure." and he became regarded as one of the world's leading experts on the writings and theology of St. Bonaventure. Fr. Peter Damian taught dogmatic theology at St. Anthony-on-Hudson Theological Seminary, Rensselaer, NY. While there he served as the Rector and Guardian from 1970-1976. He also served as the Librarian for the Seminary and during his tenure the theological library became a world-class collection. Through the years he also held a position on the Pontifical Faculty of St. Bonaventure in the Seraphicum, Rome, Italy.
In 1984, Fr. Peter Damian moved to Casa Kolbe in Rome, where he became the Assistant International Director of the Militia Immaculata, and editor of Miles Immaculatae. In this post he became renowned as a speaker at conferences, retreats, symposia, and media events - activities which would continue for the remainder of his life. In the mid-1990¿s, Fr. Peter Damian transfiliated to the Franciscans of the Immaculate, a religious congregation with its origins in the Conventual Franciscans. As a friar, he continued his ministry of teaching and writing. In 2015, Fr. Peter Damian returned to his original religious Order of Friars Minor Conventual, re-professing his Solemn Vows as a humble follower of St. Francis of Assisi. Fr. Peter Damian's scholarly genius was recognized by academics at Notre Dame University, South Bend, Indiana, at a 2015 symposium dedicated to his theological writings.