Father Fabian Grifone, O.F.M., a former pastor of Most Precious Blood parish in lower Manhattan for more than 20 years, died Dec. 21 at Beth Israel Hospital in Manhattan. He was 93. He was pastor of Most Precious Blood, beginning in 1993 until the parish merged in 2014 with the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral through the Making All Things New pastoral planning initiative.

To keep the church financially secure, Father Grifone could be found in the courtyard of the church on Mulberry Street, along with several parishioners, selling religious articles to the many tourists who would visit Little Italy. After the merger, Father Grifone retired to the community of Padua Friary on Thompson Street in lower Manhattan.