Father Ronald Anthony Beaton, C.P., St. Paul of the Cross Province (1913-1974)

Born Finlay Beaton on January 6, 1913 in Cleveland, Ohio, he was the son of Ronald and Ann Beaton. In 1924 the family moved to Coral Cables, Florida where he attended St. Theresa’s School. He graduated from Miami High School in 1931 and spent two years at Miami, University. In 1933 he entered the Passionists. Fathers Slivan Latour, C.P. and Theophane Maguire, C.P. were influential in his vocation. He professed his vows on August 15, 1935. His religious name was Ronald. He was ordained on May 30, 1942. He volunteered to go to China but was prevented to do so because of World War II. In 1946 he finally did go to Hunan where he served for five years. He was under house arrest before he was released. Back in the United States he was a preacher of parish missions, vicar of West Hartford, Connecticut and first general vocation director. In 1960 he was accepted as missionary to Jamaica, West Indies where he spent fourteen years of his life. Four years he was pastor of St. Gabriel’s Balaclava and ten years he was pastor of Sacred Heart, Christiana.