Father John G. Harfmann, S.S.J., a member of the Josephite Fathers for 50 years, died Oct. 30 at St. Joseph Manor, Baltimore, Md., after a long illness. He was 77.

A Mass of Christ the High Priest was celebrated Nov. 7 at St. Peter Claver Church, Baltimore.

Born in Brooklyn, he was baptized in Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Corona, and attended St. Brigid’s School, Bushwick, and the high school division of Cathedral College, Brooklyn, before entering Mary Immaculate Novitiate.

He also attended St. Joseph’s Seminary, Washington, D.C., and was ordained a priest June 9, 1962 by Archbishop Philip Hannan at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.

After assignments in Baltimore and Alabama, he was assigned in 1980 as director of the Josephite Pastoral center in Washington, D.C.

He served in several other parishes before being elected Josephite Consultor General in 2003.

He also was director of the Archdiocesan Urban Commission in Baltimore; served with Baltimore’s Catholic Charities; and wrote several educational books.

He is survived by his sister, Ann Windsor of Glendale; his brothers, William of Lindenhurst, L.I.; Edward and Lawrence, both of Glendale.

He was predeceased by four cousins who were priests: Fathers John Rottmann, S.S.J., Stephen Schubert, Henry Mair, S.A., and Charles Jessberger.

Burial was in New Cathedral Cemetery, Baltimore.