Author Archives: admin

1922 – 2008 (December 11)

Frank Cucinotta was born on August 31, 1922, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, one of two sons and a daughter of Ambrose Cucinotta and Josephine Martorano. He was baptized on October 1, 1922, at Saint Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi Church, Philadelphia. Frank attended elementary school and Bok Vocational High School in South Philadelphia, and in 1942 he joined the US Army Air Corps and fought in World War II as a flight engineer/upper turret gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism, as well as receiving the Air Medal four times.

1912 – 1984 (December 10)


Thomas Ambrose Burke, son of Joseph Burke and Katherine Hess,  was born in Albany,  New York, on July 15, 1912. He was baptized by his cousin, William A. Jones, O.S.A., Bishop of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Thomas attended primary and secondary schools at Cathedral Academy, Albany, and then entered  the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y., where he obtained a degree in electrical engineering in 1933. He worked as an engineer for several years, and then entered the Order at Staten Island, N.Y., in 1936.

1911 – 2013 (December 9)

John Edward Bresnahan was born on January 30, 1911, in Lawrence, Massachusetts, the son of Dennis F. Bresnahan and Helen V. Spellman. He had one sister. John was baptized on February 27, 1911, at Saint Mary’s Church, Lawrence, Massachusetts. He attended the Bruce Public School, Saint Mary’s Parish Grade School, and Lawrence High School. He entered Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York, as a postulant in September, 1927, and completed his high school education there. He was received into the novitiate on September 9, 1928, and after his year at Good Counsel Novitiate, New Hamburg, New York, he professed simple vows on September 10, 1929.

1854 – 1910 (December 7)

John Thomas Emmett was born in Pittstown, New York, on February 13, 1854, to Matthew Emmett and Hannah Rodgers. He entered the novitiate at Villanova, Pennsylvania, on September 26, 1878, professed simple vows on September 27, 1879, and solemn vows on the same date in 1882. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Jeremiah Shanahan of Harrisburg, on December 2, 1882 at Villanova.

1918 – 1976 (December 7)

John Francis Breshnahan, son of Michael Bresnahan and Margaret Campbell, was born in Medford, Massachusetts on September 29, 1918. He was educated in Medford Public Schools and at Boston College High School, where he was involved in debating and dramatics. He entered the Novitiate at New Hamburg, New York, and was professed on September 10, 1938. He graduated from Villanova in 1942 and began theological studies in Washington, D.C. He also pursued graduate courses in English at The Catholic University. Due to illness, he discontinued his theological studies, and re-entered the novitiate as a brother candidate. John was awarded an M.S. in Library Science from Villanova College in 1953 and an M.A. in Religious Education in 1961. 

1908 – 1974 (December 7) Florentino Garcia Villar, the son of Nicholas Garcia and Maria Villar, was born on June 10, 1908 in Santa Croya de Tera, (Zamora), Spain, and was professed on July 23, 1924 as a member of the Philippine Province of Spain. He was ordained to the priesthood on December 19, 1931 […]

1886 – 1915 (December 4)

John Patrick Condon, son of Pierce Condon and Maria Meehan, was born at Stillwater, New York, on February 12, 1886, and was baptized on March 12, 1886, at St. Paul’s Church in Mechanicville. Following his early education, he entered Villanova College, and from there sought admission to the Province. He became a novice at Villanova  on July 4, 1905, and was professed on July 5, 1906. He received his A.B degree in 1907 and an A.M. in 1908. He was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Edmond Prendergast in the Philadelphia Cathedral on May 14, 1910. He celebrated his first Mass the following day in St. Peter’s Church, Stillwater.

1922 – 2011 (December 3)

James Laurence Galligan, was born on August 8, 1922, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, one of four sons and four daughters of James L. and Margaret Haas. He was baptized on August 13, 1922, at St. Francis de Sales Church, Philadelphia, Pa., and attended St. Laurence Parochial School, Upper Darby, from 1928 to 1937, and Upper Darby High School for a year, West Catholic High School for two years, and then went as a postulant to Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York. He was received as a novice on September 9, 1943, at Good Counsel Novitiate, New Hamburg, New York, and professed simple vows on September 10, 1944.

1914 – 2008 (November 25) Thomas Garrett was born in San Diego, California on November 5, 1914 to Nellie Walsh and Thomas Patrick Garrett. Two years later his sister Mary was born. The Garretts were active members of St. Vincent de Paul parish in the Mission Hills section of San Diego. Tom was educated at […]

1914 – 1992 (November 23) Dennis Joseph Geaney was born August 2, 1914 in Boston, Massachusetts to Michael D. and Julia K. Geaney, and was baptized August 16, 1914 at Ss. Peter and Paul Church, South Boston. In 1931 he earned a diploma from the High School of Commerce, Boston, and was received into the […]