Born on May 1, 1898 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, when he was a young boy his family moved to South Boston, Massachusetts. At sixteen, in the fall of 1914, he entered the Passionist Preparatory School, Baltimore, Maryland. He went to the Passionist novitiate in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and professed his vows on September 15, 1916. Studies continued in Scranton, Pennsylvania for two years, then Brighton, Massachusetts for five years. On January 21, 1923 he was ordained a priest. After sacred eloquence he was assigned to be a professor. First he taught at St. Michael’s, Union City, New Jersey, then Scranton, then West Springfield, Massachusetts, followed by Holy Cross Prep, Dunkirk, and then on to Baltimore, Maryland. At the same time he often gave missions and retreats. In his early years he served as vicar in two monasteries and as rector at Holy Cross, Dunkirk. In 1935 he was a full-time preacher. For a short time he worked on the staff at Sign Magazine. In 1942 he was asked to be pastor at Immaculate Conception Monastery Parish, Jamaica, New York. There existed a large basement church and well built school. A parish church was needed. A convent had been erected for the sisters but the school also needed an auditorium. A new convent was built as was a new auditorium. Finally in 1963 a new church was built for over one million dollars. Still he was able in time to pay off the debt. In 1966 he returned from Pittsburgh and had a heart attack. This led him to be transferred to Brighton, Massachusetts where he remained semi-active until his death.
Birth Date:
May 1, 1898
Profession Date:
September 15, 1916
Ordination Date:
January 21, 1923
Death Date:
March 8, 1971
Religious Name:
Owen of St. Ann Doyle