Category Archives: today

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.

Peter Crane, O.S.A.

1834 – 1904 (February 24)

Peter Crane, son of James Crane and Mary O’Connor, was born in Bannow, County Wexford, Ireland, on July 20, 1834. He was the fourth of the five Crane brothers to join our Order. Together with his brother Mark and Thomas Galberry, he entered the novitiate at Villanova on January 1, 1852, and professed vows on January 4, 1853. He was ordained to the priesthood at Villanova in the Old Chapel of 1844 by Bishop John Neumann on November 1, 1857.

Minoru Joseph Akakura, O.S.A.

1934 – 1999 (February 20)

Minoru Akakura, son of Matthias Kiyosuke and Johanna Chie, was born on November 22, 1934 in Nagasaki, Japan, and entered the Order in 1960. He made his profession of vows on January 29, 1963, the first Japanese to profess vows in the Order in over 300 years. He made his solemn profession on the same date in 1967 and served as a brother in the various communities of the Order in Japan.

Daniel J. Hartigan, O.S.A.

1917 – 2017 (February 17) Daniel Joseph Hartigan was born June 15, 1917 in Boston, Massachusetts to David F. and Julia Hartigan.  He was baptized June 17, 1917 at St. Vincent Church, South Boston, Massachusetts, and received the Sacrament of Confirmation October 16, 1929 at St. Augustine Church, South Boston. Daniel graduated in 1934 from […]

Edward P. Flynn, O.S.A.

1869 – 1913 (February 16)

Edward Philip Flynn, son of James Flynn and Rosanna Carney, was born in Mechanicville, New York on February 24, 1869. He was baptized by Father Filippo Izzo, O.S.A. in our church in Mechanicville four days later. He entered the novitiate in Villanova, Pennsylvania on August 28, 1887, and made his simple profession on September 2, 1888. He was solemnly professed on September 2, 1891, and was ordained to the priesthood on January 6, 1892 by Archbishop Patrick Ryan at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul.