Father Dennis J. Gallagher, longtime weekend assistant in Spring Lake parish
December 7, 2020 at 2:24 a.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial was to be held Nov. 30 in St. Thomas of Villanova Church on the campus of Villanova University, Villanova, Pa.
Born in 1935 in Bryn Mawr, Pa., Father Gallagher was educated in schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia before entering Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, N.Y., as a post-graduate postulate in September 1954. He was received into the order Sept. 9, 1955. Following his year at Good Counsel Novitiate, New Hamburg, N.Y., he professed simple vows Sept. 10, 1956 and solemn vows Sept. 10, 1959.
He held a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Villanova University in 1960; a master of arts degree in theological studies from Augustinian College, Washington, D.C., and a master’s degree in library science from Villanova University. He was ordained a priest Jan. 30, 1965, in St. Thomas of Villanova Church, Villanova, Pa., by Bishop Gerald McDevitt.
His assignments included Austin Preparatory School, Reading, Mass., and Malvern Preparatory School, Malvern, Pa. He was assigned to St. John Sahagun Friary, Washington, D.C., in June 1972 to work on a doctorate in higher education at The Catholic University of America. He then joined the faculty at Villanova University as a member of St. Thomas Monastery to teach library science at the graduate level. In 1985, he became the university’s first full-time archivist.
Father Gallagher was predeceased by his parents, Dennis Gallagher and Anne McGlinchey, two brothers and three sisters. He is survived by two brothers as well as nieces, nephews and members of his Augustinian community.
Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Conshohocken, Pa.
Related Stories
Monday, December 15, 2025
E-Editions
Events
A Mass of Christian Burial was to be held Nov. 30 in St. Thomas of Villanova Church on the campus of Villanova University, Villanova, Pa.
Born in 1935 in Bryn Mawr, Pa., Father Gallagher was educated in schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia before entering Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, N.Y., as a post-graduate postulate in September 1954. He was received into the order Sept. 9, 1955. Following his year at Good Counsel Novitiate, New Hamburg, N.Y., he professed simple vows Sept. 10, 1956 and solemn vows Sept. 10, 1959.
He held a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Villanova University in 1960; a master of arts degree in theological studies from Augustinian College, Washington, D.C., and a master’s degree in library science from Villanova University. He was ordained a priest Jan. 30, 1965, in St. Thomas of Villanova Church, Villanova, Pa., by Bishop Gerald McDevitt.
His assignments included Austin Preparatory School, Reading, Mass., and Malvern Preparatory School, Malvern, Pa. He was assigned to St. John Sahagun Friary, Washington, D.C., in June 1972 to work on a doctorate in higher education at The Catholic University of America. He then joined the faculty at Villanova University as a member of St. Thomas Monastery to teach library science at the graduate level. In 1985, he became the university’s first full-time archivist.
Father Gallagher was predeceased by his parents, Dennis Gallagher and Anne McGlinchey, two brothers and three sisters. He is survived by two brothers as well as nieces, nephews and members of his Augustinian community.
Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Conshohocken, Pa.