1831 – 1871 (January 19)
Mark Crane, son of James Crane and Mary O'Connor was born in the parish of Bannow, Count Wexford, Ireland, on August 10, 1831. One of a family of eight brothers and one sister, he came to Villanova from Ireland together with his brother Peter in November of 1849. The two brothers entered the novitiate at Villanova in January 1852, and made profession of vows on January 4, 1853. All of his education was obtained at Villanova College and he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop John Neumann on December 23, 1855 and celebrated his first Mass at Old Saint Augustine on Christmas Day.
Father Crane was first stationed at Villanova and, in 1858, was assigned to Saint Augustine Parish, Lansingburg, New York. The following year, 1859, he was appointed rector of Saint Augustine, Philadelphia, where he labored the remaining years of his apostolate.Father Crane came from a remarkably blessed family. His only sister, Mary Bridget, became a Carmelite nun in the Convent at New Ross, Ireland. His oldest brother, Patrick, and his youngest brother, Nicholas, became Augustinians in Ireland. His brother Martin, also an Augustinian, became Bishop of Sandhurst, Australia, and Peter, who came with Mark from Ireland to Villanova, was also a member of the Villanova Province.Father Mark Crane died in Philadelphia on January 19, 1871, at the age of 39. He is buried in the vault in Old Saint Augustine Church, Philadelphia.
