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.
George L. Dermody, son of George Dermody and Margaret Ryan, was born in Matteawan, New York, on January 31, 1879. He entered the novitiate at Villanova, Pennsylvania in 1898, made his simple profession of vows on May 13, 1899 and was solemnly professed on May 18, 1902. He was sent to Cuba as a deacon in order to teach at Colegio San Agustin, and was ordained to the priesthood there in the archbishop’s chapel in Havana, on June 6, 1903, by Michael Bernada, Archbishop of Santiago.
John Raymond Collins was born August 12, 1902 in Troy, New York, to John T. Collins and Alice Ryan. He was baptized August 20, 1902, at St. Augustine Church there, and was confirmed there also, on April 21, 1912. He graduated from both St. Augustine Elementary School and St. Augustine High School, and was received into the novitiate of the Province on January 15, 1923. He professed simple vows on January 16, 1924 and solemn vows on January 16, 1927.
Joseph Anthony Flaherty was born on June 13, 1916 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to James A. Flaherty and Mary A. Bradley. He was baptized on June 13 in the Church of the Gesu, attended the Gesu Parochial School, Saint Joseph’s Preparatory School, and in 1938 received an A.B. degree from Saint Joseph’s College. In the fall of 1938 he was accepted into the Augustinian novitiate in New Hamburg, New York. He professed simple vows on October 31, 1939, and three years later made his solemn profession at Villanova College, Villanova, Pennsylvania, where he was studying philosophy.
James G. Corrigan, son of John Corrigan and Annie Cullen, was born in the Bronx, New York, on January 18, 1914. He was baptized at Our Lady of Mercy Church in 1914, and was confirmed in 1920 at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church, the Bronx, in which parish he received his elementary and high school education. He then studied for one year at Manhattan College.