Michael Francis Egan was born in Ireland back in 1761. He joined the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscan order) and studied at the Old University of Leuven and at Charles University in Prague. After graduation he received minor orders, subdiaconate and diaconate at Mechelen, Belgium. In 1785 he was ordained a priest in Prague.
He advanced rapidly to position of responsibility in the Franciscan order. By 1787, he was appointed guardian of the province of Munster in Ireland. He remained in Ireland until 1788, when he made a visit to the United States. He returned to Ireland working as a missionary in Ireland returning to the United States in 1802. He served as assistant pastor to Louis de Barth in Adams County. Michaels preaching abilities traveled back to Philadelphia where the parishioners of that city’s St. Mary’s Church petitioned Bishop John Carroll to send Michael to them. He arrived in Philadelphia in 1803. He died in 1814, he was 52.
What you may not know about Michael is that he was appointed the first Bishop of Philadelphia. In 1804, he received permission to establish a province of Franciscans in the United States for the first time, independent of the Irish Franciscans.
NW Arkansas, come for a visit, stay for a lifetime.
Comments(19)