February 19 is the anniversary of Nicholas J. Murphy.

Nicholas John Murphy, son of Sylvester Murphy and Mary Smith, was born in New York City, on June 15, 1855. He entered the novitiate at Villanova on January 22, 1873, and professed simple vows on January 25, 1874, and solemn vows on January 26, 1877. He was ordained to the priesthood at Saint Joseph Seminary, Troy, NY, by Bishop Goesbriand of Burlington, VT, on December 22, 1877.

Father Murphy served at Saint Mary’s Lawrence, Saint John, Schaghticoke, and was pastor of Old Saint Augustine in Philadelphia (1890-1899). In April of 1894 he established a monthly magazine called “Our Lady of Good Counsel.” It was a devotional publication intended to serve primarily the members of the Pious Union of Our Lady of Good Counsel, a religious society that he had initiated and promoted widely. The Pious UInion had at that time enjoyed a membership of about 10,000. The church’s Good Counsel Shrine too was originated by Father Murphy. He became prior and pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Tompkinsville, and president of Augustinian Academy. On September 1, 1904, he was designated by the Secretary of the Navy as navy chaplain of US vessels at Staten Island Station. The Order awarded him the degree of Bachelor of Theology on May 3, 1908.

He was elected Prior Provincial in the Chapter of 1914, a post he held until his death.
Father Nicholas Murphy died in our house of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine, Bronx, NY, on February 19, 1917. He is buried in the monastery cemetery at Villanova University.

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