Born March 21, 1868 in Roxbury, Massachusetts, he was the son of William Bellew and Jane Cheevers. He professed his vows September 16, 1889 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and was ordained a priest on May 9, 1895. For eight years he was a parish priest at St. Mary’s, Dunkirk, New York. He was then vicar at St. Michael’s West Hoboken, New Jersey for three years. For almost twenty years he served as hospital chaplain at Snake Hill or Laurel Hill, the Hudson County Institutions at Secaucus, New Jersey. This consisted of a County jail, tuberculosis hospital, county hospital, alms house, contagious disease hospital and until the 1930s what was known as the insane asylum. He began this assignment on August 2, 1905. He succeeded Father Pius O’Connor who had been forced to retire due to ill health. Father Bellew was well-known to Warden Burrow for his ability to serve the people at Laurel Hill. While in Dunkirk and at Laurel Hill Father Bellew was dispensed from the regular prayer routine in the monastery. He died suddenly and was mourned by people in Boston and at a ceremony at Laurel Hill.
Birth Date:
March 21, 1868
Profession Date:
September 16, 1889
Ordination Date:
May 9, 1895
Death Date:
July 8, 1934
Religious Name:
Louis of the Passion Bellew