January 26 is the anniversary of John W. Dwyer.

John William Dwyer, son of Patrick Dwyer and Elizabeth Lawler, was born in Hellertown, PA, on January 22, 1889. His primary education was obtained at Holy Infancy parochial school, South Bethlehem, Pa, had he attended Villanova Preparatory School for four years. He was received into the novitiate on June 25, 1909, and was subsequently sent to Saint Monica’s International College in Rome for his theological training, in September of 1911. Forced to return to the United States at the outbreak of World War I, June 1915, he was ordained to the priesthood in Saint Thomas Church on the Villanova Campus by Bishop McCort on July 1, 1915, and offered his first Mass in Holy Infancy Church, South Bethlehem on July 4.

Father Dwyer was appointed rector of postulants at Villanova in Saint Rita Hall. He caught pneumonia and died at Villanova on January 26, 1920, at the age of 31. He is buried in the monastery cemetery at Villanova University.

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