January 19 is the anniversary Francis M. Sheeran.

Francis Michael Sheeran was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1840. He received his high school education in Philadelphia, PA, and came to Villanova in 1857. In 1858, with Father Middleton, he entered the novitiate at Tolentine, Italy and was ordained to the priesthood in Rome, in 1863.

Father Sheeran returned to the United States in 1865, and was stationed at Villanova, and then at Saint Augustine’s in Philadelphia. From 1886 to 1890, he was President of Villanova College, then Master of Novices and Professed, and afterwards prior and pastor. Later he served at Saint Denis’ in Ardmore, PA; Saint Augustine’s, in Philadelphia; Saint Nicholas’ in Atlantic City, NJ, and Our Mother of Consolation, in Chestnut Hill, PA.

He died at Villanova on January 19, 1912 at the age of 72 and is buried there in the Community Cemetery.

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