Category Archives: today

1820 – 1848 (March 13)

Francis Ashe was born in January, 1820, in Cork, Ireland. In 1837, he entered the novitiate in Italy and was ordained to the priesthood by December 15, 1842. Sometime between May and August, 1843, Father Ashe emigrated to the United States with Father John O’Dwyer and professed cleric and sub-deacon, William Harnett, and began parochial duties at the parish of Saint Augustine, Philadelphia. The parish register of 1843, lists him as having performed his first baptism on September 3, and his first marriage on October 9.

Robert Augustine Walsh was born on September 20, 1938, in Lawrence Massachusetts, one of two sons and three daughters of Robert A. Walsh and Anna Hanlon. Robert was baptized on October 16, 1938 in the Church of Saint Laurence O’Toole, Lawrence. Later the family eventually moved to Andover, MA, where Robert attended the parish grammar school.

1935 – 2015 (March 8)

Edmund Joseph Dobbin was born on November 20, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York, one of four sons and a daughter of Edmund H. Dobbin and Anne V. Kelly, and was baptized on December 8, 1935 at Saint Anselm Church, Brooklyn. Later the family moved to Staten Island, where Edmund attended Saint Clare Parish School, from 1941 to 1949, and Augustinian Academy as a day student, from 1949 to 1953. Following graduation, he was received into the Order as a novice on September 9, 1953, and after a year at Good Counsel Novitiate, New Hamburg, New York, he professed simple vows on September 10, 1954. He attended Villanova University, from 1954 until 1958, received his BA in Philosophy, and professed solemn vows on September 10, 1957.

1834 – 1887 (March 7)

Michael Joseph Collins, son of Patrick Collins and Catherine Lee, was born on September 25, 1834, in Dublin, Ireland. In December 1847, the Collins family immigrated to the United States and resided in Baltimore, Maryland. Michael attended the Christian Brothers’ School, and then, in 1850, entered St. Charles’ Seminary, Ellicott City, Maryland, and in September, 1856, continued his studies in St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Md.

1854 – 1927 (March 6)

James Conaghan, son of Denis Conaghan and Mary Moore, was born on April 14, 1854, at Summit Hill, Pennsylvania. He was baptized on April 15, 1854, in the Church of St. Joseph, Summit Hill.

On July 28, 1900, James was vested at Villanova, entered the novitiate there in 1905, and, taking the name Brother Joseph, professed vows on August 2, 1906. Three years later, on August 10, 1909, he professed solemn vows.

1917 – 1989 (March 5)

Erbio Jose Caraballo was born in Santiago de las Vegas, Cuba, on November 30, 1917, to Ramiro Caraballo and Maria Trinidad Escobeda. He had one sister and three brothers, one of whom became a diocesan priest. Baptized in the church of Santiago Apostol in Santiago de las Vegas, his early education was in the local Cuban schools. Upon graduation from the Academia Valmana in 1938, he moved to Havana and came in contact with Father John McKniff, O.S.A., at the church of El Cristo. In 1943 Erbio Caraballo was accepted as a postulant at Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York.

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.

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.

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.

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.