Father John Francis Poole, C.P., St. Paul of the Cross Province (1906-1979)

Born May 30, 1906 in Brooklyn, New York he went to Cathedral College in Brooklyn and then on to Holy Cross Seminary, Dunkirk, New York. He professed his Passionist vows on August 15, 1925 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Philosophy was in West Springfield, Massachusetts from 1925 until 1926 as well as in Scranton, Pennsylvania from 1926 until 1928. Theology was in Union City, New Jersey from 1928 until 1930 and Jamaica, New York from 1930 until 1931. He was ordained February 8, 1931. Sacred eloquence followed in Jamaica from 1931 until 1932. From 1932 until 1934 he was professor at Holy Cross Seminary, Dunkirk. From 1934 until 1935 and was sent on to studies in history at The Catholic University of America in order to prepare for a career as a professor. He received his M.A. From 1935 until 1943 he was back as a professor at Dunkirk. He also was a military chaplain in the Army from 1943 until 1946 and a parish priest at St. Joseph’s Monastery, Baltimore, Maryland from 1946 until 1957 when he moved to St. Mary’s, Dunkirk, New York where he was pastor until 1963. He was in West Springfield from 1966 until 1970 and province chronicler in Union City, New Jersey from 1970 until 1979. He forever loved cigars. He died of throat cancer.