Patrick
Aloysius Dooley
REV. FATHER PATRICK ALOYSIUS
DOOLEY, under whose pastorate St. Monica's Church, at
Wampum, Pa., has developed into an active and potent factor in the accomplishment
of good in the community, has been a resident of Wampum
since 1902. He was born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, and is a son of
Michael and Ellen (Murphy) Dooley.
Michael Dooley, who is now deceased, owned and cultivated a farm at the
edge of the town of Castlecomer, in County Kilkenny. He was a man whose
chief interest centered in his family, and he labored to give his children
superior educational advantages. Neither he nor his wife ever lived in
this country, although Mrs. Dooley has been to America on a visit. They
reared a family of nine children, all of whom are still living, as
follows: Thomas; Catherine, wife of M. J. Doyle, both she and her husband
being principals of schools in Ireland; Michael; John; Rev. Patrick
Aloysius; Margaret, wife of Abraham Cody; Edward, who was the only one of
the family, aside from Rev. Father Dooley, to come to the United States;
Mary; and Nora, who also is principal of a school in her native land.
Father Dooley attended the local schools at Castlecomer, which he
entered at a youthful age, and at the age of fourteen years he began
teaching, receiving his pay from the Government. He continued about two
years, and in his fifteenth year entered St. Kieran's College, at
Killkenny. Two years later he entered St. John's College, at Waterford,
where he was ordained to priesthood at the age of twenty-five years. He
was ordained for the diocese of Pittsburg, U. S. A., and after a short
vacation embarked for America. He first located at Homestead, Pa., where
he was assistant to Rev. Bullion at St. Mary Magdalene Church, one of the
largest churches in the diocese. He remained there, two years, and then,
on account of ill health, did not have any charge for a year and a half,
spending that time in travel in the various countries of Europe. Returning
to America, he was appointed assistant priest to Father Brennan, his
cousin, at McDonald, Pa., then three months later became assistant to
Father P. J. O'Neil, at Ellwood City, Pa. He continued at that point for
nine months, during which time Father O'Neil died. In June, 1902, Father
Dooley was appointed to the charge at Wampum, where he has since labored
with such beneficial results. He immediately set about securing the
erection of a new church edifice, and after years of conscientious effort,
the present beautiful structure was completed. During the first three
years here, services were held across the river, at Chewton. By his
invitation, the corner stone was laid by Father Gallagher, of New Castle,
September 25, 1904, and the church was dedicated on July 9, 1905, by
Bishop Canevin, confirmation services being held the same day. The first
services were held on Easter Sunday, 1905, the Sunday following Wampum's
great fire. The congregation at this place numbers seventy-five families,
representing various nationalities, and Father Dooley also has charge of a
mission, St. Theresa's Church, at Hoytdale, Beaver County, Pennsylvania.
Fraternally he is a member of New Castle Lodge, B.P.O.E., and Beaver
Valley Council, K. of C.
Twentieth
Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County, 1908, page 714