1892 – 1964 (May 20)

Thomas Joseph Blessington was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on November 25, 1892, to Thomas J. Blessington and Mary Ann Davis. While attending local schools, he also worked as a printer. In 1914, he entered Saint Rita’s Hall and continued on through Villanova Preparatory. He entered the novitiate at Villanova, Pennsylvania, on June 24, 1917, and made his simple profession of vows on July 23, 1918. He was solemnly professed on the same day in 1921. Following studies, he was ordained to the priesthood at Villanova by Bishop Michael Crane on September 22, 1923.

1910 – 1983 (May 19)

Francis Patrick Fenton was born October 17, 1910 in Lawrence, Massachusetts, to Eugene Fenton and Margaret Holden. He was baptized on October 30, 1910 at St. Mary’s Church there, and received his elementary education at St. Mary’s Parochial School. He later attended Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York, which granted him a diploma in 1927. He was received into the novitiate on September 8, 1927, and professed simple vows on September 9, 1928.

1921 – 2001 (May 17)

George Francis Burnell, son of George F. Burnell and Anna Mack, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 20, 1921, and was baptized on February 13, 1921, in the church of St. Edmund. He received his early education at Holy Child Parochial School, and at St. Joseph Preparatory School, both in Philadelphia. From 1937 to 1938, he studied at St. Joseph College. On October 30, 1938, he entered Our Mother of Good Counsel Novitiate, New Hamburg, New York, professed first vows on October 31, 1939 and solemn vows on October 31, 1942. He studied philosophy at Villanova University, and graduated with a BA degree in 1942.

1921 – 1968 (May 13)

James Joseph Cain was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on October 17, 1921, to Patrick Cain and Gertrude O’Brien. He had three brothers and three sisters, two of whom became Sisters of Notre Dame. He was baptized in Saint Mary’s Church, Lawrence, and attended Saint Mary’s Grammar School. He went on, in 1934, to Lawrence High School from which he graduated in 1938. After working for a year as a cashier and bookkeeper, he entered Augustinian Academy, the minor preparatory seminary on Staten Island, New York, as a postulant, in 1939, and made his novitiate at Our Mother of Good Counsel, New Hamburg, New York.

1860 – 1927 (May 12)

Michael Duffy was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 21, 1860, the son of Richard Duffy and Anne McNamara, members of St. Michael Parish in Philadelphia. He attended local schools as well as La Salle College, after which he spent some years with the Christian Brothers and was known as Brother Basil. He later applied to our Order and was vested as an oblate at Villanova, on August 4, 1903, with the name Brother Edward. He entered the novitiate on May 4, 1907 and made his profession of vows on July 6, 1908.

1909 – 1984 (May 12)

John Patrick Corley was born on July 21, 1909 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Patrick Corley and Delia Ruane. He had four brothers and one sister. After attending Saint Edmond’s Parochial School, he entered Augustinian Academy on Staten Island, New York, as a postulant in 1926. He was received into the novitiate on September 11, 1930, and professed temporary vows on September 12, 1934. He graduated from Villanova University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy in June 1935, and then pursued theological studies at Augustinian College, Washington DC, where he was ordained on June 7, 1938 by Archbishop Michael Curley.

1885 – 1936 (May 12)


Charles Aloysius Branton, son of Owen and Mary Calahan, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 15, 1885. After receiving his early education in Philadelphia’s St. Elizabeth and Our Mother of Sorrows Schools, he attended Saint Joseph’s College High School and Roman Catholic High School. He entered the novitiate at Villanova in July, 1905, and professed first vows on July 5, 1906 in Bryn Mawr Hospital where he had been admitted for a severe case of appendicitis. Solemn Profession occurred on July 7, 1909. He was ordained to the priesthood in Philadelphia’s Cathedral by Archbishop Edmund Prendergast on May 27, 1911. Charles’ brother, Richard, was a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

1899 – 1954 (May 12)

James Patrick Ambrose, son of James Ambrose and Helen Anderson, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 10, 1899, and received baptism at St. John the Baptist Parish in Manayunk. He attended Augustinian Academy as a postulant beginning in 1921, and entered the novitiate of Our Mother of Good Counsel, New Hamburg, New York, on August 15, 1925. He made his simple profession on August 16, 1926, and was professed solemnly on the same date in 1929 at Villanova. On June 14, 1932, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Emmett Walsh of Charleston in the Immaculate Conception Shrine in Washington, DC.

1878 – 1951 (May 9)

Blase J. Zeiser was born in Bowmans, Pennsylvania on October 8, 1878, the son of Blasius Zeiser and Juliana Sauer. He entered Villanova College in 1898, and was received into the novitiate in 1902. He made his profession of simple vows on June 30, 1903, and solemn vows on July 1, 1906. He was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Prendergast in Saint Charles’ Seminary, Overbrook, PA, on May 25, 1907.

1853 – 1919 (May 6)

Hugh Augustine Gallagher was born in Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland, on August 13, 1853, the son of John Gallagher and Jane McLaughlin. He immigrated to the United States and became a naturalized citizen in 1873. He entered the novitiate at Villanova, Pennsylvania, on February 2, 1883, and made his first profession on February 3, 1884. He was ordained to the priesthood in the Cathedral of Philadelphia by Archbishop Ryan on May 29, 1887.