Born on July 27, 1885 in Montpelier, Vermont he was the son of Joseph Lebel and Catherine Yatter. His first contact with the Passionists was with Brother Andrew Fitzsimmons at Holy Cross, Mt Adams, Cincinnati, Ohio. From there he went to Louisville, Kentucky where he completed his novitiate and took his vows on July 12,...
Archives: Biographies
Biography
Brother William Irwin, C.P., St. Paul of the Cross Province (1845-1917)
Born William Irwin on August 12, 1845 in County Tyrone, Ireland, he came to New York City as a young man and joined the New York City police force. In that capacity he was seriously wounded from a knife by someone who he was trying to arrest. This left officer Irwin unconscious. During the healing...
Biography
Father William Hogan, C.P., Holy Cross Province (1918-1989)
Born March 12, 1918 in Chicago, Illinois, he was the son of John Hogan and Mary Loughnane. Ironically when Bill Hogan went to the Passionist Preparatory Seminary in Normandy, Missouri in 1931 he made this first Passionist profession prior to his novitiate. He had come down with spinal meningitis, and there was a fear that...
Biography
Father William Harding, C.P., St. Paul of the Cross Province (1888-1966)
Born Raymond Harding on November 26, 1888 in Dunkirk, New York, he was the son of John and Helen Hogan Harding. He attended St. Mary’s Parish school and in 1903 entered the Passionist Preparatory School at St. Mary’s Monastery, Dunkirk. He entered the Passionist novitiate, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and professed his vows on March 7, 1905...
Biography
Father William Geagan, C.P., St. Paul of the Cross Province (1837-1893)
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...
Biography
Father William Cavanaugh, C.P., St. Paul of the Cross Province (1899-1974)
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...
Biography
Father William Browning, C.P., Holy Cross Province (1921-2005)
Born: June 12, 1921 in Calvary Kentucky Parents: Joseph Leo Browning and Mary Agnes Abell Professed: July 17, 1942 Ordained: June 11, 1949 Died: December 20, 2005
Biography
Father Wilfrid Flanery, C.P., Holy Cross Province (1913-1987)
Born John Flannery on March 30, 1913 in Omemee, North Dakota, he was the son of Edward and Catherine Flannery. In 1930 he decided to enter the Passionist Preparatory Seminary, Normandy, Missouri. In 1931 he commenced his novitiate in Louisville, Kentucky. Vows were professed on July 27, 1932. From there he spent two years in...
Biography
Father Wilfred Scanlon, C.P., St. Paul of the Cross Province (1917-1999)
Born July 16, 1917 he professed his Passionist vows on August 15, 1938 and was ordained on May 5, 1945. He was a preacher of Passionist missions, an associate editor of Sign Magazine. He was rector of St. Gabriel’s Monastery, Brighton, Massachusetts and received a Ph.D from Boston University. He also served in three parishes...
Biography
Father Wilfred Morrissey, C.P., St. Paul of the Cross Province (1907-1936)
Born John Morrissey on May 26, 1907 in Dunkirk, New York, he attended St. Mary’s Grammar School there. In sixth grade he applied for admission to the Passionist Preparatory School at St. May’s Monastery, Dunkirk. After graduation he went to the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania novitiate and professed his vows on September 12, 1926. His religious name...