Born William Connolly on November 21, 1904 in East Cambridge, Massachusetts, he was the son of Bernard Connolly and Mary McMakin. He was educated in local Catholic schools and got to know the Passionists at St. Gabriel’s Monastery, Brighton, Massachusetts. After high school he applied to the Passionists in 1923 and went for two years to Holy Cross Seminary, Dunkirk, New York. He professed his vows on September 12, 1926. His religious name was Anslem. He was ordained May 22, 1932 at St. Michael’s Monastery, Union City, New Jersey by Archbishop Thomas J. Walsh of Newark, New Jersey. He was a parish priest at St. Joseph’s Monastery Parish, Baltimore. Maryland and then at St. Gabriel’s Parish, Brighton. On occasion he was a preacher of parish missions. In 1944 his health began to decline and he was sent to be a community member of Jamaica, New York. At times he had to be hospitalized to care for his illness. Even with this knowledge his death came as sudden sadness to the community.
Birth Date:
November 21, 1904
Profession Date:
September 12, 1926
Ordination Date:
May 22, 1932
Death Date:
May 27, 1947
Religious Name:
Anselm of the Most Pure Heart of Mary Connolly