Herald Staff Report
(From the issue of 8/5/04)

Father Edmund Carroll, T.O.R., administrator of Our Lady of the Shenandoah Mission in Basye, newly appointed Dean of Deanery IV in the Arlington Diocese, and a member of the Diocesan Pastoral Council, died July 31. He was 74.

Father Carroll served as pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Herndon from 1988-96. He was credited with the foresight to initiate plans for the new parish center, which was dedicated last March by Bishop Paul S. Loverde. The 21,000-square-foot facility includes offices, a commercial kitchen and courtyard, and is available for school and parish functions.

"I am truly saddened by the sudden death of Father Edmund Carroll, a member of the Third Order Regular of the Franciscans, who recently returned to our diocese after having served two terms as Provincial Superior of the Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus," said Bishop Loverde.

"Father Edmund had served so faithfully as pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Herndon from June 1, 1988 through Feb. 1, 1996, and Judge of the Diocesan Tribunal as well as Vicar for Religious. He was now ministering to God's people at the Mission of Our Lady of the Shenandoah in Basye, as well as serving as a member of the Diocesan Tribunal, the Diocesan Pastoral Council, and Dean of Region IV. We commend him through prayer to Our Blessed Lord, asking that He may reward Father Edmund's life and ministry as a Friar and as a priest with eternal life."

Father Carroll held a variety of leadership positions with the Franciscans of the Third Order Regular, including postulant director, headmaster of St. Francis Prep School in Spring Grove, Pa., superior of the Franciscan monastery in Loretto, Pa., local religious superior, provincial secretary and provincial treasurer. He served several terms as minister provincial.

He was born in Scranton, Pa., in 1929, and entered the Franciscan community in 1948. He was ordained a priest in 1957.

Father Carroll was awarded the Franciscan University of Steubenville’s Founders’ Award on Dec. 1, 2001. He served as chairman of the University’s Board of Trustees for 13 years.

He returned to the Arlington Diocese in 2003 after serving another four-year term as minister provincial. Bishop Loverde appointed Father Carroll to a five-year term as Dean, effective July 5.