Confrater Ignatius Meara, C.P., St. Paul of the Cross Province (1844-1863)

Born December 20, 1844 as Charles Patrick in Nenagh, Diocese of Willaloe, Ireland, he was the son of Daniel and Maria Meara. His father died and his mother remarried a man named Mr. Walch. They settled in Savanah, Georgia. Charles was sent to school at St. Benedict Abbey, about forty miles outside Pittsburgh. When the Civil War began he asked to join the Passionists. When he died on December 8, 1863 his death was the first death of a Passionist in the United States. He died of tuberculosis. He had professed his Passionist vows on November 21, 1863 and received the name Ignatius.