Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
Guilfoyle was born near Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and studied at St. Bonaventure College in Olean, New York. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 2, 1917. He then served as a curate at St. Stephen Church in Oil City until 1921, when he became secretary to Bishop John Mark Gannon. He also served as pastor of St. Peter's Cathedral and chancellor of the Diocese of Erie.