January 26 is the anniversary of Edward J. Burns.

Edward John Burns was born on October 10, 1915, in Torrington, Connecticut, to Edward Burns and Judith (Palm) Burns. He was baptized at St. Francis Church in Torrington, and received his early education at St. Francis parochial school followed by Torrington High School. In September, 1932, he enrolled in the Commerce and Finance Department at Villanova College, as a candidate for the BA Degree in Economics which he received in June 1937. He entered the Novitiate of Our Mother of Good Counsel, New Hamburg, New York, on September 9, 1934, professed first vows on September 10, 1935 and solemn profession three years later. After his philosophy courses at Villanova College, he studied theology (1937-1941) at Augustinian College, Washington, D.C. On June 10, 1940, he was ordained to the priesthood at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. In February 1945, Father Burns received the Ph.D, in Economics from Catholic University of America.

In February 1944, Father Burns’ received his first assignment to the then Villanova College, Villanova, Pa., where he taught Economics for three years. In 1947, he took up residence at St. Laurence O’Toole Parish in Lawrence, Ma., and became one of the founding friars of Merrimack College, No. Andover, Ma. In addition he served as Director of Business Administration, Sacristan and counselor for the community. In 1951, he was assigned to Universidad de Santo Tomas de Villanova, Habana, Cuba. There he served as Director of Public Relations, Sub-Prior, Treasurer, Dean of Economics, and Sacristan. During his assignment in Cuba, Father Burns returned to Merrimack College, No. Andover, and taught summer sessions. In 1959, he became again a professor at Merrimack College and Director of the Liberal Arts program. In 1969, he was named dean and later vice president of Biscayne College (now St. Thomas University), Miami, Florida. In 1972, he founded the bi-lingual institute which enabled many Cuban exiles to earn college degrees.

In 1978, Father Burns volunteered to serve in the Augustinian Missions in Peru, principally in Morropon and its surrounding missions. In 1986, he returned from Peru, and became Prior of St Joseph Community, Greenwich, N.Y. In 1994, he retired to Casa San Lorenzo of Saint Thomas University, Miami, Florida. In 1996, due to ill health, he took up residence at Saint Thomas Monastery, Villanova, Pa.

Father Burns was a capable teacher and administrator and at the same time a caring pastor. Through reading, talks, discussions, and continuing education he became aware of changing times and adjusted his life to serve the people. He was involved in the Charismatic and Cursillo Movements and in ministries at correctional facilities. In addition, he wrote several articles on various subjects, his latest, in March 1998, Biblical Geography: A Neglected Subject.

In 1985 the bishop of Chulucanas, Peru, conferred on Father Burns, the Order of the Chasqui, an ecclesiastical award to recognize outstanding and continuous efforts on behalf of that missionary diocese. In 1986, Father Burns was awarded the Alumni Achievement Award from the Catholic University of America.

Funeral services were conducted at St. Thomas of Villanova Church, Villanova, Pa., with interment at Calvary Cemetery, West Conshohocken, Pa.