William Francis Doyle was born September 22, 1904 in Chicago, Illinois, to James Doyle and Leonora Quill. He was baptized on September 25, 1904 in Holy Family Catholic Church, Chicago. Following graduation from St. Rita High School, Chicago, William was received into the novitiate on June 25, 1924. He professed simple vows on June 26. 1925 and solemn vows June 26, 1928., and earned a B. A. in Philosophy from Villanova College, Villanova, Pennsylvania, in 1928.
William J. Deacy, son of John Deacy and Mary Daisey, was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts on July 8, 1891. He studied at Lawrence High School, Boston College, and the Harvard Medical School, were he completed one year. In 1917, he entered the novitiate at Villanova, Pennsylvania, and made his profession of simple vows on July 23, 1918. He was solemnly professed early, with a dispensation, on November 25, 1920.
Joseph Richard Gattinella was born on October 20, 1917, in Smith Mill, Pennsylvania, one of two sons and three daughters of Samuel Gattinella and Dora Leone. He attended Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Parish School, Philadelphia, PA, and Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York. Following his novitiate year at New Hamburg, N.Y., he professed simple vows on September 10, 1937. He then studied at Villanova College and at the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. He was solemnly professed on September 10, 1940 and was ordained to the priesthood on May 18, 1944 in Washington, D.C.
Father Joe, as he was widely known, was assigned to Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Parish, Philadelphia, in 1945. From 1951 to 1955, he was an Air Force chaplain, and served the greater part of his ministry in the Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey areas. He was a pioneer member of the faculty at Saint Augustine Preparatory School, Richland, N.J., and served as the prior of the community there. He also served at Our Lady of Pompeii Parish, E. Vineland, N.J., providing pastoral care for the mission churches of that parish in Milmay and Dorothy, N.J.
In 1971, Father Gattinella was appointed pastor of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Parish, Philadelphia, and served in that capacity for 13 years. During his tenure he made necessary repairs to properties and paid off a part of the parish debt. On October 12, 1980 he was able to offer a Mass of Thanksgiving for making the final payment on the mortgage. He retired from active ministry in October, 1984, six months after celebrating the fortieth anniversary of his ordination. He remained in residence at Saint Nicholas as pastor emeritus until ill health required constant care in area hospitals and convalescent centers.
Father Gattinella died on June 12, 1987. Funeral liturgies were celebrated at Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Church, Philadelphia, and at Saint Mary Church, East Vineland. The Vice Provincial, Stephen LaRosa, O.S.A., was principal celebrant and homilist. The Bishop of Camden, George Guilfoyle, presided at the Vineland liturgy. Bishop Louis DeSimone, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia, and Bishop James Schad, Auxiliary Bishop of Camden, attended the Philadelphia funeral liturgy. Father Gattinella was buried in Saint Mary’s Cemetery, East Vineland.
Francis Bernard Gilligan was born in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 3, 1916, to Thomas A. Gilligan and Ellen Fanning. He had four brothers and fours sisters. Thomas, his older brother, became a member of the Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova, and two of his sisters became Sisters of Saint Joseph. He was baptized in the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi on November 26, 1916, and received his early education in the parish grammar school. He attended Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia for two years and then transferred to Augustinian Academy on Staten Island, New York, from which he graduated as a postulant in June 1935. Frank was accepted into Our Mother of Good Counsel Novitiate, New Hamburg, N.Y., and professed simple vows on September 10, 1936. His college years were spent at Saint Mary's Hall, on the campus of Villanova College, Villanova, PA, where he professed solemn vows on September 10, 1939. He graduated with a B.A. degree in philosophy in June 1940, and pursued theological studies at Augustinian College, Washington, DC. He was ordained to the priesthood at Trinity Chapel on May 29, 1943. While studying theology he received a master's degree in speech and drama from The Catholic University in 1944.
Father Gilligan's first assignment was to Malvern Preparatory School, Malvern, PA, in 1944, and except for a summer assignment in 1952 to Our Mother of Good Counsel Parish in Los Angeles, CA, he spent the next 27 years at Malvern as a high school teacher. For 15 years he was prefect of studies as well as moderator of the drama club, yearbook, and school paper. In 1959 he became headmaster of the school served in that capacity until 1971. In 1968 Father Gilligan was appointed prior of the Augustinian Community.
In 1971 he was transferred to Saint Thomas of Villanova Parish, Rosemont, PA, as prior of the Community and associate pastor. Four years later in 1975, he was assigned to Saint Genevieve Parish in Flourtown, PA, as associate pastor. In 1977 he was transferred to Saint Rita Parish, Philadelphia, and two years later he became pastor and prior of Old Saint Augustine Church, Philadelphia. He returned as prior and pastor of Saint Rita in 1981 and remained there until he was transferred to Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Church in Atlantic City, N.J., in 1987. From there he supervised the Province's summer residence at Ocean City, N.J.
In 1988, in declining health, he was re-assigned to Old Saint Agustine in Philadelphia, and was residing at Saint Thomas of Villanova Monastery, Villanova, at the time of his death on June 11, 1988, due to heart failure. Father Gilligan was known for his sense of humor and ready wit. His influence on the many young men with whome he came in contact during his years at Malvern cannot be measured.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on June 16, 1988, at the Church of Saint Thomas of Villanova, by the Prior Provincial, Father Joseph A. Duffey, O.S.A. The homilist was Father Joseph Grifferty, a close friend and former member of the Malvern faculty. Father Gilligan is buried in the Augustinian plot at Calvary Cemetery, West Conshohocken, PA.
Albert A. Durant was born on October 23, 1911 in Lawrence, Massachusetts, to Albert Durant and Mary Kirby, and was baptized there in the Church of Saint Patrick on November 5, 1911. After graduation from Lawrence High School, he attended Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York as a post-graduate student. He was received into the novitiate in September, 1928, and professed simple vows in the Order on September 10, 1929.
James Bernard Gallagher was born on October 17, 1904, to Martin Gallagher and Catherine Carroll, and was baptized on October 23, 1904 in the church of Saints Peter and Paul, in Towanda, Pennsylvania. He received his early education at St. Agnes Grammar School and St. Agnes High School, and in 1921, entered the preparatory seminary as a freshman postulant on the campus of Villanova College. On June 23, 1922, he was received as a novice in Corr Hall, at Villanova and on June 24, 1923, he professed first vows.
Charles J. Danaher, son of Charles Danaher and Catherine Wilmoth, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on December 4, 1915. He attended grammar school at Waldron Academy in Merion. In 1937 he joined the minor seminary of the Augustinians, at Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York. He was received into the novitiate on September 9, 1938, and professed first vows on September 10, 1939, and three years later solemn vows.
James Edward "Ned" Connery, son of William H. Connery and Elizabeth Anne Croke, was born in Troy, New York, on August 14, 1906, and was baptized by his uncle Father John A. Hogan, O.S.A. His early education was obtained at Saint Peter Academy and at Troy High School, after which he attended Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, N.Y. Received as a novice on September 8, 1927, he made profession of first vows on September 9, 1928, and solemn vows on September 9, 1931. He graduated from Villanova College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in June, 1932, and completed his theological training at Augustinian College, Washington, D.C., where he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop James Ryan at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on June 11, 1935. While in Washington he took graduate courses at Catholic University.
John Robert Aherne was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 18, 1912, to John P. Aherne and Anna Bradley. He had three sisters, two of whom entered religious life. John was raised in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, and attended the elementary schools of Immaculate Conception and Saint Francis of Assisi Parishes.
Ralph Leonard Giovinetti was born March 12, 1918 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Giacomo Giovinetti and Philomena Marucci. He was baptized July 23, 1918 at St. Rita of Cascia Church, Philadelphia, and received the Sacrament of Confirmation there on May 2, 1926. After completing his elementary education and studying for one year at Roman Catholic High School, Philadelphia, Ralph entered the Augustinian program of formation at Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York, in 1933. He received his high school diploma in 1936, and was received into the novitiate that same year. He professed simple vows on September 10, 1937. He earned a B. A. in Philosophy from Villanova College, Villanova, Pennsylvania, in 1941, and then pursued theological studies at Augustinian College, Washington, D. C. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 18, 1944. He did graduate studies in Latin at Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
In 1945 Father Giovanetti was assigned to St. Rita High School, Chicago, Illinois, where he taught for the next 29 years. He also coached basketball and served as Athletic Director.
He died suddenly on May 30, 1974 after suffering a heart attack at St. Rita Monastery, Chicago. Father Giovinetti is buried in the Augustinian plot at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip, Illinois.
Joseph Francis Derby was born October 29, 1909, in Lawrence, Massachusetts to John and Balbina Bastian. He was baptized November 3, 1909, at Assumption Church, Lawrence, and was confirmed on May 3, 1924, at St. Mary Church there. After completing two years of studies at Lawrence High School, he entered Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York, which granted him a high school diploma in 1928. He was received into the novitiate on September 9, 1928. He professed vows on September 10, 1928, and earned a B. A. in Philosophy from Villanova College, Villanova, Pennsylvania, in 1933.
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.
