MANCHESTER -- Reverend Michael J. Griffin Jr., 89, died Thursday, July 19, 2012.

He was born May 5, 1923, in Portsmouth the son of the late Michael J. and Agnes B. (Buckley) Griffin.

He attended St. Patrick School and was a 1941 graduate of Portsmouth High School, where he was an all-state basketball player.

He was ordained a priest June 11, 1949, by Bishop Matthew F. Brady, fifth Bishop of Manchester, at Saint Joseph Cathedral, Manchester. He studied at St. Anselm College, Manchester; St. Thomas Seminary, Bloomfield, Conn.; St. Paul Seminary, Ottawa, PQ, Canada; and completed his ecclesiastical studies at St. John Seminary, Brighton, Mass.

Father Griffin was assigned as associate pastor of St. Kieran Parish in Berlin in June 1949 and then as associate pastor of St. Joseph Cathedral in June 1950 while serving on the faculty at Bishop Bradley High School.

In September 1962, he was assigned as associate pastor of St. Catherine Parish, Manchester, while continuing to serve on the faculty at Bishop Bradley High School, and in August of 1964 as associate pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish, Manchester.

In September 1966, Bishop Ernest J. Primeau appointed Father Griffin as pastor of St. Matthew Parish in Whitefield. In June 1970, Bishop Primeau appointed him pastor of St. Kieran Parish in Berlin and in December 1973 as administrator of Holy Angels Parish in Plaistow.

In November 1975, Bishop Odore J. Gendron appointed Father Griffin as pastor of Holy Angels Parish. In November 1982, Bishop Gendron appointed him as pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Laconia. He became a senior priest in September 1992 and served at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish, Hampton, until he retired in September 2003.

He was a staunch pro-life advocate who demonstrated his convictions by going annually to Washington, D.C., to protest the Roe vs Wade decision and by participating in peaceful picketing of facilities that provided abortions.

During his retirement, he served as chaplain at St. Ann Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Dover.

He loved the outdoors, especially camping and canoeing, as well as playing cribbage, and was a huge fan of LeBron James.

WE REMEMBER:He is survived by two nieces, Janice Griffin and Ann Collins and her husband John; five nephews, Bruce Googins and his wife Marianne, Bradley Googins and his wife Ridgeley Fuller, Michael Googins, Mark Googins and his wife Betts Gorsky, and Charles Griffin and his wife Judi; his first cousin, Rev. Timothy J. Buckley; and several grand- and great-grandnieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by two sisters, Sister Virginia A. Griffin, R.S.M., and Margaret Googins; two brothers, Charles J. Griffin and William M. Griffin; and two nephews, Daniel and Brian Googins.

SERVICES: Calling hours will be held Friday, July 27, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church, 289 Lafayette Road, Hampton. The Rite of Reception of the Body will take place at the church at 4 p.m. and Father Griffin will then lie in state until 7 p.m., concluding with evening prayer.

Father Griffin will again lie in state Saturday, July 28, from 9 to 9:45 a.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. with The Most Reverend Peter A. Libasci, Bishop of Manchester, presiding. The Rite of Committal will be celebrated later that afternoon at Calvary Cemetery, Portsmouth.

Memorial donations may be made to Sacred Heart School, 289 Lafayette Road, Hampton, NH 03842.

Arrangements are by the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home-Crematory, Hampton.

For directions and to sign an online guest book, visit www.RemickGendron.com.