Scott A. Duff

Scott Duff, who inspired a world-wide spiritual movement of prayer and support for those with brain disorders and all types of mental and emotional illnesses, passed away on August 24, 2024, into the arms of Our Lord. His brother Timothy, co-founder with his late mother Mildred of the Guild of St. Benedict Joseph Labre, noted that his beloved brother’s death happened on his own birthday and that of the Feast of St. Bartholomew.

“This is such a gift to me to know that my brother will enter his eternal rest on this great day and the celebration of my life and his,” Timothy said.

Scott, who became ill at seventeen years old, spent over fifty years of his life in psychiatric hospitals ever struggling with severe and chronic schizophrenia. The transformation was particularly painful because growing up Scott was a gentle, sensitive, courteous and loving person, becoming an altar boy and honor roll student. Yet by sixteen was growing sad, shy, and fearful, as well as distressed about hearing voices. When he could no longer communicate, Scott was hospitalized and would eventually be housed in a state facility. Tragically, he was transferred to Bridgewater State Hospital for the criminally insane though he had never committed a crime.

He was often isolated and in seclusion and was even marked once as “a good candidate for euthanasia.”

Yet, his mother soldiered on and eventually with Timothy, founded the Guild of St. Benedict Joesph Labre in the latter 1990s with the assistance of many clergy, including Father Benedict Joseph Groeschel, and numerous religious orders around in many countries. The journey included moments of miraculous intercession and signs by Our Lady of Fatima. (See guildbjlabre.org). Mildred and Timothy would travel hundreds of miles a month visiting religious houses, hospitals, retreat places, churches, and even people's homes bringing close to four thousand families in touch with the Apostolate. One highlight was the EWTN taping of “Arise from Darkness” featuring the story of Scott Duff and the Guild.

After his mother passed, Timothy continued the Guild, developed a web page with much information and many opportunities for prayer. Daily, his members join in prayer for all those suffering from emotional distress, situationally or organically, including an evening Sorrowful Chaplet for the Middle East. Sundays focus on those suffering from mental illness and or their loved ones.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at Corpus Christi Parish 324 Quaker Meetinghouse Road, East Sandwich. Burial to follow at the Massachusetts National Cemetery.