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John M. Driscoll, O.S.A.

1923 – 2011 (March 2)

John Michael Driscoll was born on September 14, 1923, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of John Stephen Driscoll and Mary Ann Coll. He had one brother and two sisters. He was baptized on September 23, 1923, at Our Mother of Sorrows Parish, Philadelphia, and attended Our Mother of Sorrows Grade School, from 1929 to 1936, and Saint Thomas More High School, from 1936 to 1940. In September 1942, he was accepted as a postulant at Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York, and was received into the novitiate on September 9, 1943. After his year at Good Counsel Novitiate, New Hamburg, N.Y., he professed simple vows on September 10, 1944, and pursued studies at Villanova College, where he received his BA in Philosophy in 1948. He professed solemn vows on September 10, 1947.

Edward A. Dailey, O.S.A.

1839 – 1901 (March 2)

Edward Augustine Dailey, son of Carol Dailey and Anne Woods, was born on June 9, 1839, in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Ireland. He arrived in the United States when he was quite young and received his early education at Saint Augustine School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On September 18, 1858, he entered the novitiate at Villanova, professed simple vows on September 19, 1859, and solemn vows three years later. On December 21, 1862, he was ordained to the priesthood by James Frederic Wood, Archbishop of Philadelphia.

Leo J. Collins

1848 – 1888 (March 1)

Leo Jeremiah Collins was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts in 1848 and arrived at Villanova, Pennsylvania, in January or February of 1888, as a candidate for the brotherhood. Within two months he became seriously ill and died on March 1, 1888. Shortly before his death, Leo Collins was received as a Tertiary with the name Jeremiah and given the Cincture of Saint Augustine by Father Charles Mary Driscoll, O.S.A.

Eugene Fiteni, O.S.A.

1884 – 1966 (February 28)

Eugene Fiteni was born on September 17, 1884 in Cospicua, on the island of Malta. He was invested with the habit as a novice on September 16, 1900, and professed first vows on November 10, 1901. He was ordained to the priesthood on December 18, 1909.

Cornelius J. Ford, O.S.A.

1883 – 1939 (February 27)

Cornelius John Ford, son of John Ford and Honora Mahoney, was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on October 7, 1883, and baptized the following day in Saint Mary’s Church, Lawrence. He received his early education at Saint Mary’s Parochial School and Saint Mary’s High School before entering Villanova College. Cornelius was professed on June 30, 1903, and was ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, May 25, 1907, at Saint Charles Seminary, Overbrook, Pennsylvania, by Patrick J. Ryan, Archbishop of Philadelphia.

William T. Eagan, O.S.A.

1907 – 1971 (February 27)

William Thomas Eagan, son of James Eagan and Anna Rooney, was born in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, on February 25, 1907, but he was raised in nearby Kingston. He graduated from the Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York in 1928, and entered the novitiate in September, 1928. William professed simple vows on September 10, 1929 and solemn vows on the same day in 1932.

Edwin J. Crosby, O.S.A.

1910 – 1986 (February 26)

Edwin Joseph Crosby was born August 31, 1910 in Troy, New York, to George Crosby and Sara O’Neill. He was baptized September 7, 1910 at Saint Augustine Church, Troy, and there received the Sacrament of Confirmation on May 23, 1921. He received his elementary education at Saint Augustine Parish School, and graduated in 1926 from Catholic Central High School, also in Troy. For a short time he worked as a grocery clerk, before undertaking post-graduate studies as a postulant at Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York. Ned was received into the novitiate on September 8, 1927. He professed simple vows on September 9, 1928 and solemn vows on September 9, 1931.

Louis M. Edge, O.S.A.

1825 – 1870 (February 24)

Louis Matthew Edge, son of Philip Edge and Mary McGrath, was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1825. His early education was obtained in Ireland after which he joined the Christian Brothers in England. In 1847 he came to the United States and joined the Third Order of Saint Francis at Loretto, Pennsylvania, where he taught in the college for five years. He was vested as a novice at Villanova on January 11, 1852, and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop John Neumann in the Chapel of the House of the Good Shepherd in Philadelphia, on June 19, 1854.

Francis A. Diehl, O.S.A.

1895 – 1973 (February 24)

Francis Aloysius Diehl who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 8, 1895, was one of 12 children of William Diehl and Katherine Weldon. Among his brothers, was Father Cornelius Diehl, O.S.B. of Belmont Abbey in North Carolina. Francis entered Saint Rita’s Hall at Villanova, Pa. in 1908, and was received into the novitiate there in June, 1912. He professed first vows on June 20, 1913, and solemn vows on June 23, 1916. He graduated from Villanova College in that same latter year and was ordained to the priesthood on June 8, 1919 by Archbishop Dennis Dougherty in the Overbrook Seminary.

Francis G. Di Matteo, O.S.A.

1904 – 1996 (February 24)

Francis Gabriel Di Matteo, son of Anthony Di Matteo and Filomena De Ascentis, was born on September 12, 1904, in Macedon, New York, and was baptized on October 9, 1904, in the Church of Saint Anthony of Padua in Rochester. He received his early education at the Seymour Street School, the Lincoln School and the school of the Holy Family, and later worked for a brief time in Auburn, New York, and also in West Chester, Pennsylvania. “Dominic,” as he is known to most Augustinians, made a visit with his parents to a family residence in Ponzano, Italy, and was called to serve in the peace-time Italian Army. After thirteen months of military service he returned to the United States and, in 1929, entered Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York, as a postulant. He began his novitiate year on September 9, 1932, professed first vows on September 11. 1933, and three years later made solemn profession.