Rev. Gerald A. Prior, O.S.A. (1898 - 1956)
Rev. Gerald A. Prior, O.S.A. entered eternal life on December 3, 1956.
Gerald Anthony Prior was born on August 9, 1898 in Pottstown, Pennsylvania to William and Elizabeth (Gannon) Prior. He was baptized on August 14, 1898 at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Pottstown. He received the Sacrament of Confirmation on June 26, 1910 at the same church.
After completing his secondary education at Belmont College, Belmont, North Carolina, Gerald did university studies for two years at St. Joseph College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He then entered the Augustinian program of formation as a Postulant in 1920 at Villanova College, Villanova, Pennsylvania, where he continued his university studies.
On February 2, 1921, Gerald was received into the Augustinian Novitiate. He professed simple (temporary) vows in the Order of St. Augustine on February 19, 1922 and solemn (permanent) vows on February 19, 1925. After earning a B.A. from Villanova, he pursued theological studies at Villanova. He was ordained a priest on August 2, 1925.
Following his ordination, Father Prior was assigned for one year to the Augustinian Novitiate, New Hamburg, New York. He then served as a teacher at various Augustinian schools: Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York; Fox Valley Catholic High School, Aurora, Illinois; St. Thomas High School, Rockford, Illinois; and Malvern Prep School, Malvern, Pennsylvania.
From 1936 until 1955, Father Prior was Assistant Pastor of St. Augustine Church, Detroit, Michigan. In 1955, he was assigned to Mendel Catholic High School, Chicago, Illinois. He died there on December 3, 1956.
Father Prior is buried in the Augustinian cemetery at Villanova.
Memorial gifts may be made to: The Midwest Augustinians, 10161 S Longwood Dr, Chicago, IL 60643-2032 or via our Online Giving Page.
