Early Life and Academic Formation
Gabriel Harrington was born Charles Harrington on 27 March 1893, in Cork. He received his preliminary education from the Christian Brothers at the North Monastery School in Cork before advancing to the Capuchin Franciscan College in Rochestown. On 14 September 1910, he entered the Capuchin Franciscan Order as a novice. His subsequent higher education comprised philosophical studies at University College Cork and theological training at Rochestown Capuchin College. He was ordained to the priesthood on 3 May 1918.
Missionary Assignments in the United States
In November 1919 Father Harrington was transferred to the American missions, embarking on nearly a decade of pastoral service across several states:
• Abbottstown, Pennsylvania: Assigned to the local Capuchin House, ministering from 8 December 1919, through September 1920.
• Bend, Oregon: Served as Assistant Pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Parish from September 1920 until 23 December 1922.
• Los Angeles, California: Appointed Associate Pastor at St. Lawrence of Brindisi Parish, serving from late 1922 until autumn 1927.
• Ukiah, California: Reassigned to St. Mary Parish in the Autumn of 1927.
Throughout these regional postings, Father Harrington travelled widely to conduct parish missions and novena devotions. This itinerant evangelical ministry served a dual purpose: spreading Catholic doctrine and generating critical financial support for the Capuchin friars.
Illness, Return to Ireland, and Final Years
During his assignments in the Western United States, Father Harrington developed severe arthritis, which progressively incapacitated him over the ensuing years. Due to his declining health, he returned permanently to Ireland in February 1929. He spent his remaining years in retirement at the novitiate Friary in Rochestown, enduring chronic pain. Despite his physical limitations, he remained an active participant in religious life. Father Harrington passed away on 25 December 1953. He is buried in the cemetery attached to Rochestown Friary in County Cork.
Early Life and Academic Formation
Adrian Sharkey was born Hubert Sharkey on 25 March 1879 in County Sligo. He received his primary education within the local National School system. Following the completion of his secondary education, he entered the Capuchin Franciscan Order in 1896. His philosophical and theological preparation was completed at the order’s houses of study in Cork and Kilkenny. He was ordained to the priesthood on 17 September 1903, at the Holy Trinity Church in Cork. The subsequent year was dedicated to advanced ecclesiastical studies in Louvain, Belgium.
Missionary Assignments and Pastoral Leadership
In 1915, Father Sharkey was assigned to the American Capuchin Mission, embarking upon fifty years of ministry across the United States:
• Bend, Oregon: Initial assignment to the Pacific Northwest mission field in 1915.
• Roseburg, Oregon: Transferred locally to continue parochial ministry.
• Lincoln, Nebraska: Appointed to his first pastorate.
• Los Angeles, California: Appointed Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in 1934.
• Ukiah, California: Transferred to serve as Pastor of St. Mary's Church from 1937 until 1940.
Administrative Governance and Chaplaincy
In 1940, Father Sharkey shifted into administrative leadership upon his election as Consultor to the Custos Provincial of the Irish Capuchins in America. He served continuously in this governance capacity for nearly a decade, concluding his term in 1949. Following his administrative tenure, he returned to Oregon in 1949 to serve as Chaplain to the Veterans Administration Hospital in Roseburg, providing pastoral care to hospitalized military veterans.
Father Sharkey passed away in Roseburg on 22 June 1965. He is buried in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Roseburg, Oregon.
Early Life and Academic Formation
Emilian Meade was born John Joseph Meade on 8 May 1919, in Knocknagree, County Cork, to John and Helena Meade. He received his secondary education at the Capuchin Franciscan College in Rochestown, County Cork. In 1938, he entered the Capuchin Franciscan Order, making his simple profession in 1939 and his solemn profession in 1942. His higher education comprised philosophical studies at University College Cork, followed by theological studies in Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal. He was ordained to the priesthood there in 1946.
Educational Apostolates in California
In 1947, Father Meade was transferred to the West Coast of the United States to join the faculty of the newly opened St. Francis High School in La Cañada Flintridge, California. He dedicated many years to the institution as both an instructor and administrator, serving two distinct tenures as school principal:
• First Term as Principal: 1952-1956
• Second Term as Principal: 1963-1965
Additionally, he served a brief tenure as a member of the teaching faculty at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California.
Provincial Governance and the Founding of San Lorenzo Seminary
Father Meade entered executive leadership upon his election as Custos Provincial of the Western American Custody, serving from 1956 to 1962. Upon taking office, he heavily emphasized spiritual renewal, urging the friars to ‘pray for vocations’, and continued the foundational administrative work initiated by his predecessor, Father Stephen Murtagh OFM Cap.
His six-year provincial administration was defined by a major expansion milestone:
• Land Acquisition: Accepted an offer of land donated by the Hourihan family in the Santa Ynez Valley.
• Seminary Construction: Oversee the establishment and construction of San Lorenzo Seminary, which formally opened on 4 September 1962.
• Institutional Relocation: Successfully transitioned the novitiate from Wilmington, Delaware, to the West Coast, achieving a long-standing provincial objective to train novices locally in the West. Father Cyril Kelleher OFM Cap. was appointed the seminary’s first Guardian, and Father Sebastian Ward OFM Cap. was named Novice-Master.
Following his provincial term, Father Meade returned to San Lorenzo Seminary from 1965 to 1969, serving as Guardian and overseeing structural developments and landscaping improvements to the friary grounds.
Parochial Ministry, Healthcare Chaplaincy, and Final Years
Following his administrative tenures, Father Meade shifted into local pastoral work and healthcare chaplaincy:
• Burlingame, California: Served a brief assignment as Associate Pastor at Our Lady of Angels Parish.
• Fresno, California: Transferred in 1975 to serve as Guardian of the Fresno Friars and Chaplain to the Fresno Community Hospital.
While stationed in Fresno, Father Meade developed a chronic heart condition that significantly altered his active routine. In 1991, he returned to Our Lady of Angels Rectory in Burlingame, spending the final ten years of his life in retirement. Father Emilian Meade died on 4 August 2001. He was buried in the cemetery attached to San Lorenzo Seminary, Santa Inés, California.
Early Life and Religious Formation
Valerian O’Leary was born Niall O’Leary on 5 September 1910 in Cork city. He received his preliminary education under the direction of the Christian Brothers in Cork. Following graduation, he entered the Capuchin Franciscan Order on 3 October 1927. He pronounced his solemn profession on 4 October 1931 and completed his theological curriculum over the ensuing years. He was ordained to the priesthood on 23 June 1935, at St. Eunan’s Cathedral in Letterkenny, County Donegal.
Initial Ministry and Missionary Transfer
Following ordination, Father O’Leary served his initial clerical assignment as Assistant Master of Novices in Ireland from July 1935 to October 1936. In late 1936, he was transferred to the American missions, commencing his long service on the West Coast as Assistant Pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Roseburg, Oregon.
Apostolates and Governance
Father O’Leary held the unique distinction of working within every primary apostolate of the Western American Mission, encompassing parochial work, education, healthcare chaplaincy, formation, and administration:
• Educational Leadership: Appointed as the inaugural Principal of St. Francis High School in La Cañada Flintridge, California, directing the institution through its foundational years from 1946 until 1952.
• Provincial Governance: Elected as a member of the Custos-Provincial Council, serving a three-year administrative term from 1949 to 1952.
• Healthcare Chaplaincy: Served as Chaplain to the State Hospital in Ukiah, California, from 1957 to 1961, and later as Hospital Chaplain in Fresno, California, from 1968 to 1975.
• Local Superiorship: Appointed Guardian of San Lorenzo Seminary in Santa Ynez, California, serving from 1975 to 1982.
Archival Labors and Concluding Years
Upon completing his term as Guardian in 1982, Father O’Leary remained in residence at San Lorenzo Seminary. During this period, he dedicated his efforts to a long-term historical project initiated in 1972: updating, compiling, and publishing the Provincial Catalogue, a highly utilized reference registry for the jurisdiction. In his advanced years, Father O’Leary suffered from failing health. He died on 19 December 1991. He was buried in the Capuchin Provincial Cemetery, San Lorenzo Seminary, Santa Ynez, California.
Early Life and Religious Formation
James O’Reilly was born on 11 September 1862 in County Cavan to Philip O’Reilly and Catherine O’Reilly (née Plunkett). He entered the Capuchin Franciscan Order as a lay brother, receiving the religious name Seraphin upon his investiture on 2 February 1889. He pronounced his first vows on 4 February 1890, and made his solemn, perpetual profession on 22 February 1893.
Domestic Ministry in Ireland
Following his professions, Brother Seraphin was assigned to the domestic houses of the Irish Capuchin Province. The primary scene of his religious labour was Rochestown Friary in County Cork. He served there for three years.
Missionary Service in the United States
In October 1914, Brother Seraphin travelled from Ireland to support the expanding American mission field, dedicating his final decade to the Western American houses:
• Hermiston, Oregon: Arrived in late 1914 to assist the local friars. During his assignment, he provided critical manual labour and support to help build the new Hermiston parish church.
• Ukiah, California: Transferred to Northern California to join the community at St. Mary's Parish, where he ministered for several years.
Within the Ukiah friary, Brother Seraphin managed the domestic operations of the house. Contemporary records from 1924 described him as an excellent chef and housekeeper who maintained a robust, distinguished, and fatherly presence, standing six feet four inches tall and wearing a well-trimmed beard.
Illness and Decease
In the early months of 1925, Brother Seraphin’s declining health caused profound alarm to his religious superiors. After receiving the last Sacraments of the Church, he passed away peacefully on 28 June 1925, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in San Francisco, California. He was buried in Ukiah, California.
Religious name: Br. Seraphin O’Reilly OFM Cap.
Baptismal name: James O’Reilly
Date of birth: 11 Sept. 1862
Place of birth: County Cavan (Diocese of Kilmore)
Name of father: Philip O’Reilly
Name of mother: Catherine O’Reilly (née Plunkett)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 2 Feb. 1889
Date of first profession: 4 Feb. 1890
Date of final (solemn) profession: 22 Feb. 1893
Missionary activity: Travelled to the United States in Oct. 1914
Date of death: 28 June 1925
Place of death: St. Joseph’s Hospital, San Francisco, California
Place of burial: Ukiah, California
James Honohan was born in Donoughmore in County Cork on 16 September 1905. He joined the Capuchin Franciscans in April 1932 and took Patrick as his religious name. Shortly after his solemn (final) profession in April 1936, he was transferred to the United States mission custody. His initial assignment was in St. Patrick’s Friary in Wilmington, Delaware. In 1943 he was transferred to St. Joseph’s Church in Roseburg, Oregon, where he spent three years. In 1946 he came to St. Francis High School in La Cañada Flintridge, California, where he spent thirteen years, serving as cook and sacristan. Following another year in Willington, Br. Patrick returned to St. Francis High School. In 1966 he assigned to Mission Santa Inés, Solvang, California. He again served as cook and sacristan and maintained the mission’s grounds. He died in Santa Inés on 6 September 1979 and was buried in the cemetery adjoining San Lorenzo Friary.
Baptismal name: James Honohan
Religious name: Br. Patrick Honohan OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 16 Sept. 1905
Place of birth: Ballycunningham, Donoughmore, County Cork (Diocese of Cloyne)
Name of father: Andrew Honohan (Farmer)
Name of mother: Hannah Honohan (née Twomey)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 24 Apr. 1932
Date of first profession: 25 Apr. 1933
Date of final profession: 25 Apr. 1936
Missionary activities: Travelled to the United States mission on 4 Oct. 1936
Date of death: 6 Sept. 1979
Place of death: Santa Inés, California
Place of burial: San Lorenzo Friary, Santa Inés, California
Michael O'Sullivan CM was a Vincentian priest of the Irish Province. He played a significant part in the Cork presence of the Vincentians.
Joseph Shanahan B.Sc., C.S.Sp. (1871–1943) was an Irish-born priest of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans), who served as a bishop in Nigeria – first as prefect apostolic of Lower Niger (now Onitsha)[1] and then as vicar apostolic of Southern Nigeria.