1890 – 1956 (December 28)
Lorenzo Lozano was born in Villanueva de la Serena, Spain, on March 27, 1890, to Cayetano Lozano and Isidora Vicioso. He entered the novitiate at Madrid in 1907, and made his profession of simple vows on September 8, 1908. completed his studies for the priesthood at the Royal Monastery of the Escorial, Spain, and was ordained there on April 21, 1916.
Father Lozano spent his first 15 years as a priest teaching and doing parochial work in Spain. On January 23, 1931, he arrived in the United States and Chicago, Illinois. He was sent to San Angelo, Texas where he served in a Spanish-speaking parish. In 1933, he was assigned to teach at Saint Rita High School, Chicago, and in 1935, to Villanova College, Villanova, PA, where he taught Spanish and served as chairman of the Spanish Department. He also acted as moderator of the Spanish Club, and inaugurated the Noche Espanol and Cervantes Day which became two outstanding social events at Villanova.
Father Lozano remained always a member of the Escorial Province of Spain. However, he had served the Order for 25 years in the United States when he died suddenly while on vacation in New York City on December 28, 1956 at the age of 66.
The Funeral Mass was celebrated on January 3, 1957, at Saint Thomas of Villanova Church with Father James Hurley, O.S.A., prior of the monastery as celebrant, and Father Dante Girolami, O.S.A., as homilist. Father Lozano was buried in the Community Cemetery at Villanova.
On March 3, 1957, Father Lozano was honored posthumously by the Spanish government with The Order of Isabel la Catolica. The award was offered by Dr. Teomiro de Aguilar, Spanish Consul at a communion breakfast following Mass at Saint Mary’s Hall, Villanova, in recognition of Father Lozano’s helping to foster good Spanish-American relations.
