Born Joseph Francis Xavier O’Neill on July 12, 1880 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was the son of James O’Neil and Mary O’Neill. He attended Malachy’s Elementary School and spent one year at St.Joseph’s High School. At fourteen he went to the Passionist Preparatory Seminary at St. Mary’s, Dunkirk, New York. From there he went to the novitiate at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and professed his vows on October 26, 1897. He was ordained on December 17, 1904. He was an assistant pastor at St. Joseph’s Monastery Church, professor at the Preparatory Seminary, and hospital chaplain at Baltimore, Maryland. He was vicar in Baltimore and West Hoboken, New Jersey and provincial econome from 1926 until 1942. .He died at St. Mary’s Hospital, Hoboken, New Jersey.
Birth Date:
July 12, 1880
Profession Date:
October 26, 1897
Ordination Date:
December 17, 1904
Death Date:
April 17, 1953
Religious Name:
Gerarld of the Holy Cross O'Neill