Born Thomas Cavanaugh on April 22, 1899 in Dunkirk, New York, he was the son of Thomas Cavanaugh and Catherine Merhaefer. He attended Dunkirk public schools until his sophomore year in 1914 when he entered the Passionist Preparatory school in Baltimore, Maryland. He then went to the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania novitiate in 1916 and professed his vows on August 13, 1917. His religious name was William. He was ordained on June 14, 1924 in West Hoboken, New Jersey. He went on for graduate studies. In 1925 he went to The Catholic University of America for a degree in Canon Law and Civil Law. He was awarded both degrees and was a professor of Canon Law, Moral Theology, Pastoral Theology and English to Passionist seminarians. He resided at St. Ann’s Monastery, Scranton, Pennsylvania for twenty-two years. He preached the Monday novena and often was a confessor and counselor. He worked in parishes on the weekends and was hospital chaplain at West Mountain Sanitarium for three years before his last assignment at St. Gabriel’s Monastery, Brighton, Massachusetts.
Birth Date:
April 22, 1899
Profession Date:
August 13, 1917
Ordination Date:
June 14, 1924
Death Date:
April 21, 1974
Religious Name:
William of St. Joseph Cavanaugh