Vincent de Paul Burnell was born September 7, 1911 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to James Burnell and Anna McAteer. He had one sister. He was baptized September 24, 1911, at St. Raphael Church, Philadelphia, and received the Sacrament of Confirmation May 26, 1927 at St. Edmond Catholic Church. After graduating from St. Edmond Elementary School, he began his secondary education at Roman Catholic High School, Philadelphia.
Michael Francis Gallagher was born in Dromore, Ireland, in 1802, the son of Eugene Gallagher and Catharine Hughes. He left Ireland for the United States at the age of 18, studied for the priesthood under Bishop Francis Kenrick for the Diocese of Philadelphia, and was ordained by him on May 25, 1837, at St. Mary’s Church in Philadelphia. Father Gallagher served at Brownsville on the missions, where he built the “Historic Old Saint Peter’s Church,” and at other stations in western Pennsylvania until 1848.
Stephen R. Fogarty, son of Joseph Fogarty and Anne Marie Hogan, was born October 7, 1909, in Staten Island, New York. Upon completion of his elementary education there, Stephen attended high school at Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, earning his diploma in 1926. He was received into the novitiate on August 15, 1926. He professed simple vows on August 16, 1927 and solemn vows on October 8, 1930.
John Patrick Fahey, son of James Fahey and Anna Holland was born at Valley Falls, New York, on January 26, 1858. He studied in public schools in Pittstown, N.Y., after which he entered the novitiate at Villanova, Pennsylvania in 1877. He made his simple profession of vows on January 29, 1878 and solemn profession of February 2, 1881. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 11, 1881, by Bishop Jeremiah Shanahan of Harrisburg, in the Church of the Vincentians in Germantown, Pa.
Emmet Ambrose Flynn, son of James Flynn and Emma Gormley, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 8, 1897. He received his education in Philadelphia’s parochial schools and at Villanova Prep. He entered the novitiate at Villanova on June 24, 1917, and professed simple vows on July 23, 1918. He was solemnly professed on June 25, 1922. On September 22, 1923, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Michael Crane at Villanova.
Lawrence Chevrier Gallen was born in Eastport, Maine on August 11, 1929 of Francis L. Gallen and Mary Virginia Chevrier. Following his primary education he attended Western High School, Washington, DC, and upon graduation entered Villanova University from which he graduated magna cum laude in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science degree. In 1952 he enlisted in the US Navy and served as engineering officer and executive officer on a destroyer, the USS F.M. Robinson DE 220.
William Vincent Donovan, son of William Donovan and Mary O’Connell, was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts on January 1, 1896, and was baptized in St. Mary’s Church on January 12th of the same year. He entered St. Rita Hall, Villanova, Pennsylvania, in 1912, was received into the novitiate on June 19, 1913, professed simple vows on June 19, 1914 and solemn vows on June 24, 1917. He was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Dougherty on May 29, 1920, in the Cathedral of Philadelphia.
Jerome D’Ambra was born on October 7, 1885 in Foro d’Ischia, Naples, Italy, one of six sons of Giovanni D’Ambra and Loretta Castagliolo. After immigrating to the United States he lived for many years in Philadelphia, where he was employed as a shoemaker, and became well acquainted with the friars at his parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, South Philadelphia. He entered the Order on May 29, 1931, and was vested on May 22, 1935. He made profession of vows on May 23, 1936 at New Hamburg, NY before Father Lorenzo Andolfi, Commissary at the time of the Italian Vice-Province. His solemn profession took place on July 4, 1939 at Our Lady of Pompeii in Dobbs Ferry, where he spent 20 years.
John F. Burns, son of Joseph Burns and Teresa Leonard, was born in Albany, New York on December 2, 1895. He was received as a novice at Villanova, Pennsylvania, on June 19, 1913 and professed simple vows in the Order on June 19, 1914. He was solemnly professed on the same day in 1917 and following studies, was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Dennis Dougherty at the Philadelphia Cathedral on May 29, 1920.
Robert Francis Andrews, was born on March 25, 1929, in Provincetown, Massachusetts, one of two sons and one daughter of Edward B. Andrews and Annie May Bragg. He was baptized on April 11, 1929, at Saint Peter the Apostle Church, Provincetown. He began his elementary education at Provincetown Public School and then, from 1935 until 1943, at Our Lady of Good Counsel School, Staten Island, New York. He attended High School at Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, from 1943 to 1947, and in his last year he became a postulant.