A Baptist convert to Catholicism, he entered the novitiate upon graduation from Notre Dame in 1949 and was ordained a priest for the Eastern Province of the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1954.
He was appointed in 1974 to the newly created post of University chaplain, serving until health problems forced his retirement.
During his time at Notre Dame, "Griff" became famous for presiding at a popular "Urchin Mass" for children and their parents on campus.
In 1973 he was elected Notre Dame's Senior Class Fellow, an honor which had until then been reserved for nationally prominent people.
His essays appeared in three collections: In The Kingdom of the Lonely God, I Never Said I Didn't Love You, and The Continuing Conversation.