Born Daniel Geagan on August 15, 1837 in Killein, Ireland, he came to the United States where he was employed for a short time in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He entered the Passionist novitiate there and professed his vows on July 5, 1858. His religious name was William. He was ordained a priest on March 28, 1863 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Buffalo, New York by Bishop John Timon, the first bishop of the diocese. His first assignment was the rural parish of Cataraugus Village, New York which was about thirty miles from Dunkirk, New York. In 1883 he was appointed vice-rector of the Pittsburgh monastery. In 1887 he was elected rector of St. Michael’s, West Hoboken, New Jersey to fill out the assignment of Father Constantine Colclough who resigned the post to go to Argentina. In 1890 he was then elected in his own right. He was also a popular preacher and missionary. During the last decade of his life he was plagued with accidents. In 1882 he dislocated his right shoulder blade in a fall. This was not properly set for healing. Thus he had to endure several operations. Later the toes of both his feet were crushed under a train coach in Altoona, Pennsylvania. And he also suffered from dropsy.
Birth Date:
August 15, 1837
Profession Date:
July 5, 1858
Ordination Date:
March 28, 1963
Death Date:
July 28, 1893
Religious Name:
William of St. Peter Geagan