The Augustinians
James Laughlin MacDougall, O.S.A.
The Augustinians
Martin Lawrence Smith, O.S.A.
The Augustinians
William Howard McGraw, O.S.A.
The Augustinians
Edward John Dixey, O.S.A.
The Augustinians
Michael Patrick Sullivan, O.S.A.

Edward M. Duffy, O.S.A.

1860 – 1927 (May 12)

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 P. Corley, O.S.A.

1909 – 1984 (May 12)

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 A. Branton, O.S.A.

1885 – 1936 (May 12)


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.

James P. Ambrose, O.S.A.

1899 – 1954 (May 12)

James Patrick Ambrose, son of James Ambrose and Helen Anderson, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 10, 1899, and received baptism at St. John the Baptist Parish in Manayunk. He attended Augustinian Academy as a postulant beginning in 1921, and entered the novitiate of Our Mother of Good Counsel, New Hamburg, New York, on August 15, 1925. He made his simple profession on August 16, 1926, and was professed solemnly on the same date in 1929 at Villanova. On June 14, 1932, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Emmett Walsh of Charleston in the Immaculate Conception Shrine in Washington, DC.

Blase J. Zeiser, O.S.A.

1878 – 1951 (May 9)

Blase J. Zeiser was born in Bowmans, Pennsylvania on October 8, 1878, the son of Blasius Zeiser and Juliana Sauer. He entered Villanova College in 1898, and was received into the novitiate in 1902. He made his profession of simple vows on June 30, 1903, and solemn vows on July 1, 1906. He was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Prendergast in Saint Charles' Seminary, Overbrook, PA, on May 25, 1907.

Hugh A. Gallagher, O.S.A.

1853 – 1919 (May 6)

Hugh Augustine Gallagher was born in Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland, on August 13, 1853, the son of John Gallagher and Jane McLaughlin. He immigrated to the United States and became a naturalized citizen in 1873. He entered the novitiate at Villanova, Pennsylvania, on February 2, 1883, and made his first profession on February 3, 1884. He was ordained to the priesthood in the Cathedral of Philadelphia by Archbishop Ryan on May 29, 1887.

James P. Conway, O.S.A.

1930 – 2014 (April 28)

James Patrick Conway was born on July 27, 1930, in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Patrick Conway and Margaret Cribbin, and was baptized on August 17, 1930 at Saint Joseph Church, Tremont, New York. He attended St. Barnabas Parish School from 1936 to 1937, and St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish School, Bronx, from 1937 to 1943, and St. Nicholas of Tolentine High School from 1944 to 1948. He enrolled as a postulant at Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York in 1951, and was received as a novice on September 9, 1952.

John J. Fedigan, O.S.A.

1842 – 1908 (April 27)

John Joseph Fedigan, son of James Fedigan and Anna McGowan, was born in Rathbran, Ireland, on April 27, 1842. He studied at Saint Mary's College in Wilmington, Delaware, before entering the Province in 1864. In May of that year he was sent to make his novitiate at Ghent, Belgium, with three other novices, Timothy Hayes, James Conway, and John Gilmore. The first two of these classmates, on their return to the United States, died at 25 and 24 years of age, respectively, due in no small part to the severe conditions under which they all lived in Ghent. John Fedigan made his profession of vows on July 23, 1865.

Matthew M. Cunningham, O.S.A.

1902 – 1948 (April 25)

Matthew Michael Cunningham, son of Thomas Cunningham and Ellen Ellis, was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1902. He entered the novitiate at Villanova, Pennsylvania, on August 15, 1926, and made his profession of simple vows on August 16, 1927. He was solemnly professed on the same day in 1930. He received his A.B. degree that same year from Villanova College and pursued theological studies in Washington, D.C. He received his Master’s degree in 1934. Matthew was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Curley of Baltimore, at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, on June 13, 1933. 

John Frediani, O.S.A.

1907 – 1980 (April 23)

Giovanni Frediani was born in Borgo a Buggiano, Italy, on June 16, 1907. At age seven, he moved into the local Augustinian Seminary where his father was the cook. For the rest of his life, he lived in Augustinian communities. He professed his first vows in the Order on October 31, 1924, and his solemn vows on July 23, 1928, as a member of the Etrurian Province. He was ordained to the priesthood on March 16, 1930.

Mark A. Garrett, O.S.A.

Garrett Mark-17.jpeg

1945 – 2009 (April 23)

Mark Anthony Garrett was born on March 13, 1945, in Teaneck, New Jersey, the son of Thomas A. Garrett and Velma Moersdorf, and was baptized at Our Lady of Victories Church, Jersey City, N.J. He attended public and parochial schools in New Jersey and later in Decatur, Illinois, and, from 1959 until 1961, Malvern Preparatory School, Malvern, Pa. He was enrolled at Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York, as a postulant, from 1961 to 1962, and was received into the Order as a novice on September 8, 1962. Following a year at Good Counsel Novitiate, New Hamburg, NY, he professed first vows on September 10, 1963. Mark attended Villanova University, from 1963 to 1967, and received his BA degree in Philosophy, after which he went to Augustinian College, Washington, DC, until 1971, and attended the Catholic University of America, where he received an STL in theology. He professed solemn vows on September 10, 1966, and was ordained to the priesthood on August 29, 1970, at Saint Denis Church, Havertown, PA, by Bishop James Schad, Auxiliary Bishop of Camden.

Father Mark was first assigned to the Casa San Lorenzo and Biscayne College, Miami, Florida, where he taught from 1971 to 1974. From 1974 to 1978, he lived with the Augustinian Community in Paris and pursued graduate studies at the Institut Catholique. In 1978 he was assigned to Merrimack College, North Andover, Massachusetts, where he taught until 1984. During that time he resided at Our Mother of Good Counsel Monastery on the college campus, then at Saint Augustine Community, Andover, and then at Saint Augustine Friary, Tower Hill, Lawrence. In 1984 he returned to the Casa San Lorenzo and Biscayne College, as a teacher, from 1984 to 1989. In 1989 he was a member of Saint Augustine Friary, Malvern, PA, while he continued graduate studies. From 1991 to 2001, he taught at the Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, Texas and in 2001 he was assigned to the Augustinian College community, Washington, DC.

In 2005, Father Mark was assigned to the Saint Thomas Monastery community, Villanova,  and began ministry with the Augustinian Friends and the Augustinian Seculars throughout the Province. Father Mark passed over to the Lord on April 23, 2009, after a truck accident while visiting with Augustinian spirituality groups in the New England area. After his funeral liturgy at Saint Thomas Church, Villanova University, he was buried in the Augustinian section of Calvary Cemetery, West Conshohocken, PA. He was sixty-four years old.

Father Mark was an avid reader and knowledgeable in classical and modern languages, a student his lifelong, especially in the areas of Saint Augustine, spirituality, liturgical and sacramental theology. In a letter to the Augustinian Friends and Seculars, Mark wrote: "We are a people of hope, who believe and follow a God of hope. May that God of hope be forever with us as we continue to journey. May that be so for us all." 

Robert Browne, O.S.A.

1772 – 1839 (April 20)

Robert Browne was born in Ireland in 1770. The records of the Irish Province show that he asked to enter the novitiate on November 13, 1786, when he was about 16 years old. He made his novitiate in Rome and, at his profession, took the name Nicholas. He studied at St. Matthew’s, the Irish Augustinian seminary in Rome, and at Bologna from 1790 to 1796. He was ordained in 1795. He returned to Ireland where he is listed as a member of the Dublin community in 1803.

James T.S. Conway, O.S.A.

1845 – 1869 (April 19)

James Trowbridge Sylvester Conway, son of Thomas Conway and Rebecca Van Brant, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on January 13, 1845. He entered the novitiate at Ghent, Belgium, where he made his first profession of vows on July 9, 1866. He was solemnly professed on July 24, 1869. Having completed his studies, he returned to the United States in 1868, suffering from consumption. He was ordained to the priesthood in the Philadelphia Cathedral by Bishop Jeremiah Shanahan of Harrisburg on October 24, 1868.

William Fink, O.S.A.

1889 – 1967 (April 18)

William Liguori Fink was born on August 29, 1889, in McSherrystown, Pennsylvania, to John J. Fink and Mary Shorb. He received his elementary education at St. Joseph Parochial School, McSherrystown, and after completing one hear of high school at St. Joseph, he entered the Augustinian minor seminary at St. Rita's Hall, Villanova, Pennsylvania, where he completed his secondary education. He was received into the novitiate on July 6, 1908, and professed simple vows on July 7, 1909, and solemn vows on September 22, 1912.

John A. Crosson

1939 – 1996 (April 18)

John Allan Crosson, son of John E. Crosson and Eleanor Laskey, was born on Staten Island, New York, on December 10, 1939, and was baptized on December 31, 1939 in the Church of St. Paul, Staten Island, where he received his early education. He studied at St. John Baptist de la Salle and Don Bosco Technical High School in Paterson, New Jersey, and on July 15, 1957, entered  Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, N.Y., as an oblate. Two years later he began his six month postulancy. On January 24, 1960, John entered the novitiate at New Hamburg, N.Y., professed simple vows on January 25, 1961, and three years later made solemn profession.

William F. Berry, O.S.A.

1897 – 1926 (April 17)


William Francis Berry, son of William Berry, a watchman, and Ann Jennings, was born in Castlebar, Count Mayo, Ireland on February 13, 1897. He immigrated to the United States with his family in 1906, studied at Saint Anselm Grammar School in the Bronx and at local public schools before he entered the novitiate at Villanova, Pennsylvania in 1916. He pronounced first vows on June 24, 1917, and solemn vows on June 27, 1920. He was sent to Spain to study theology and was ordained there on July 15, 1923.

Edmund L. Burke, O.S.A.

1916 – 1984 (April 16)

Edmund Lawrence Burke, son of Lawrence Burke and Jennie Proctor, was born in Chicago, Illinois, on March 30, 1916. He received his early education at Visitation and Saint Clare grammar schools and spent his high school at Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York. He entered the novitiate on September 8, 1934, and professed first vows on September 10, 1935 and solemn vows on September 10, 1938. After his novitiate he began college work at Villanova College and received his degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1939. He pursued theological studies at Augustinian College, Washington, DC, where he was ordained to the priesthood at Trinity College on May, 28, 1942.

John J. Curran, O.S.A.

1917 – 1992 (April 14)

John Joseph Curran was born on September 10, 1917, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to John J. Curran and Catherine Burke. He had one brother. Baptized on September 23, 1917, in Our Lady of Victory Church, Philadelphia, the family moved to Wildwood, New Jersey, where John attended Saint Ann's Parish School and Wildwood High School. In 1939 he graduated from Villanova College with a B.S. in Biology. He entered Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York, as a postulant in February of 1940. Upon completion of his novitiate at Our Mother of Good Counsel, New Hamburg, N.Y., John professed simple vows September 10, 1941, and three years later, September 10, 1944, he made solemn profession.

James A. Donnellon, O.S.A.

906 – 1971 (April 11)

James Augustine Donnellon, son of James Donnellon and Catherine Mahon, was born on September 10, 1906, in the parish of St. Joseph, Niagara Falls, New York. The Donnellons moved to Lawrence, Massachusetts, where James received his elementary education in St. Laurence O'Toole Parish School. He graduated in 1920, began high school at St. John's Preparatory School, Danvers, MA., and then entered Augustinian Academy on Staten Island, New York, graduating in 1924. On August 15, 1925, he was received into the novitiate, professed first vows on August 16, 1926, and made solemn profession on August 16, 1929.

Donald X. Burt, O.S.A.

1929 – 2014 (April 11)

Donald Xavier Burt was born on April 29, 1929, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of William Burt and Mary T. Clark, one of five brothers and two sisters. He was baptized at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Philadelphia, on May 19, 1929. He attended Our Lady of the Rosary Parish School, from 1935 to 1943, and Saint Thomas More High School for three years, from 1943 to 1946. He entered Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York as a postulant and completed his high school education there.