Joseph Briody, son of Thomas Briody and Elizabeth Kavanaugh, was born in Old Castle, County Meath, Ireland, and was baptized on February 26, 1837. He was vested at Villanova, Pennsylvania on September 2, 1888, and, following the completion of his novitiate experience, professed vows on February 12, 1896.
George J. DeMarco was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 23, 1906, the son of Savario DeMarco and Louisa Varnese. He was baptized at St Mary Magdalene dei Pazzi Church in Philadelphia. He studied at Villanova Preparatory School, and at Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York, beginning in 1920. He was received into the Order as a novice in June 1924 and after his novitiate he professed first vows on June 26, 1925.
Ambrogio Colorito, son of Antonio Colorito and Maria Porto, was born in Maenza, Italy, on April 5, 1882. He professed vows in the Order as a member of the Roman Province on October 22, 1898, studied at the convent of the Most Holy Trinity at Viterbo, and was ordained to the priesthood on July 25, 1905. In Italy he served for a time at the convent of Santo Spirito in Florence.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.