Father Cosmas Boyle, C.P., St. Paul of the Cross Province (1905-1955)

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Born Dennis Boyle on June 9, 1905 in Bayonne, New Jersey, he was the son of Owen Boyle and Anna O’Donnell. After a local Catholic elementary education he graduated from St. Peter’s Preparatory School, Jersey City, New Jersey in June 1924. For one year he worked to help support his family, but in September 1925 entered the Passionist Preparatory Seminary at Dunkirk, New York. In July 1926 he proceeded on to West Springfield, Massachusetts to the novitiate. On August 15, 1927 he professed his vows. He prepared for ordination at the Passionist monasteries in Brighton, Massachusetts, Union City, New Jersey and Baltimore, Maryland. He was ordained on June 13, 1933 at the Basilica of the Assumption, Baltimore by Archbishop Michael J. Curley. He then stayed in Baltimore for his year of Sacred Eloquence.

For his first several years he was assigned to parish missions. Then he was assigned to the parish staff at St. Joseph’s Monastery Church, Baltimore. He is noted for organizing and developing the competitive parish Drum Corps. Since it was the Depression, Father Boyle inaugurated the annual parish carnival to relieve the economic burdens.

When World War II began in 1941 Father Boyle responded to the call for military chaplains by joining the Army in February 1942. After initial training at Fort McClellan, Alabama he was sent to England and was assigned to a Ranger unit which was on the first line of attack on North Africa. He was awarded the Silver Star. He also participated in the invasions of Sicily and Southern Italy. Finally he was made Port Chaplain at Leghorn, Italy.

In 1946 he was re-assigned to St. Joseph’s Monastery, Baltimore and eventually once again was on the parish there. However, during the war he sustained a leg injury which slowed him down. In his years in Baltimore he was most willing to hear confessions, do carpentry work, paint, or drive a car for his fellow Passionists. He died on October 7, 1955.

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