Coming to America
Patrick’s Promise
In 1927, at age 18, Patrick decided that he wanted to sell real estate in the United States. He already had family members in America: three sisters, three uncles, and other relatives settled in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Acquiring their father’s consent was a difficult part of his journey. His father agreed that he and his brother, Tom, could make the trip to America and live with their sister with one condition:
Go down on your knees and make me a promise here before the picture of the Sacred Heart. From now on there will be nobody but yourself to advise you and to decide for you. But your first responsibility will always be to save your soul, and so I want you to promise to be faithful to Our Lord in America.
Hidden Dreams of Priesthood
Greeted by their sister Nellie, Patrick and Tom were mesmerized by “Scranton, the Electric City.” Nellie set up a meeting with Monsignor Kelly, which Patrick declined.
For weeks Patrick searched, without success, for employment. Monsignor Kelly tracked him down and offered him a job as a sexton (janitor) in the cathedral – he accepted.
Finally, while working in the cathedral, with the silence, peace, and joy of talking to Our Lord and Our Blessed Mother, Patrick experienced a sense of being at home and a place of happiness. Patrick’s dream of becoming a missionary priest was awakened in a new land.
However, Patrick’s dream was challenged again by his lack of education, so he enrolled at St. Thomas High School. His brother Tom also made the decision to become a priest and Monsignor Kelly helped them both.
The Call to Holy Cross
Spring of 1929 – Holy Cross priests from Notre Dame, IN visited Patrick’s new parish in Scranton, PA. Their preaching and presence spurred Patrick to realize and express a desire to become a missionary with Holy Cross. During this visit he approached Father Pat Dolan, C.S.C. (Congregation of Holy Cross), and said “I Want to Join Holy Cross.”
Pat’s Attraction to the Congregation of Holy Cross:
- Family atmosphere (modeled after the Holy Family)
- Assistance to diocesan clergy
- Obedience
Monsignor Kelly wrote a letter of recommendation stating “I envy the community or the bishop that finally gets him.”
With great joy, in 1929, Patrick and Tom entered Holy Cross Minor Seminary at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. In June 1932, at the age of 23, Patrick and his brother, Tom, graduated and began the novitiate at Holy Cross. This was an intensive year of spiritual exercises that included living with and learning about the Congregation of Holy Cross. They professed their temporary vows with Holy Cross in 1933 and started studying for a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Notre Dame.
After completing their bachelor degrees (Patrick with Honors) in 1937, the Peyton brothers began theological training at Holy Cross College, on the campus of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. In addition to theology and canon law, Patrick also acquired knowledge that would benefit him as a missionary. Patrick lived with seminarians who were also preparing for the missions at the house called the Bengalese while Thomas lived at Holy Cross College, as he planned to serve in the United States. Patrick’s oft-denied dream to be a missionary priest was now seemingly within reach.
A Mother’s Love and Faith Leads to a Miraculous Healing
A mother’s prayer and a Mother’s answer!
In October 1938, Patrick’s health began to deteriorate and he was diagnosed with advanced tuberculosis in November. His condition grew progressively worse. In October 1939, the doctors offered Patrick two options: a risky surgery, with little hope for success, or simply to pray.
Father Cornelius Hagerty, C.S.C., visited and described a passage from St. Paul, stating that faith is transmitted from mother to son.
“You have the faith, Pat,” he said, “but you’re not using it. You brought it with you from Ireland. Your mother gave it to you, just as her mother had given it to her.”
Patrick’s Auntie Annie shared with Patrick, “Your mother’s constant prayer was that your sufferings would come upon her, that you would get well and go back to your work.”
Father Hagerty spoke of Mary, Our Blessed Mother’s intercession: “What she asks for and insists on she obtains. She has never failed anyone who had recourse to her with faith and perseverance.”
“Since you have your faith, why don’t you use it!”
Patrick did what his former mentor suggested and prayed to Mary, Our Blessed Mother for a cure. On October 31, 1939 he knew in his heart that he had been cured. His depression, darkness, and feeling of loneliness were replaced by lightness, freedom, and hope. Patrick saw Our Lady in a new light: how human, approachable, and sensitive she is to our needs.
“When I needed her and her power and her friendship, she didn’t forget that ever since I had been a little child and could open my mouth, I had used that power to say the Rosary; so when I needed her friendship, she was glad to give it to me.”
Ordination to the Priesthood
Patrick returned from the brink of death and was ordained with his brother Tom and other classmates on June 15, 1941 at Sacred Heart Church at the University of Notre Dame. “That day I gave my heart and soul in love to Mary.”
Father Patrick's First Assignment in Albany
Father Peyton was certain that his return to health had come about for a specific purpose, namely, to foster devotion to Mary, but the question remained of how to achieve this goal.
His first assignment was as a chaplain to a group of Holy Cross brothers who taught at the Vincentian Institute in Albany, New York.
Father Peyton dutifully fulfilled his commitments as chaplain to the Brothers and it was in this time that a dream of establishing the Family Rosary in the homes of 10 million began to take shape.
Father Pat began the Family Rosary Crusade, getting volunteer students and Brothers and Sisters from Vincentian Institute to assist him writing letters to Bishops asking their help to organize a Rosary campaign.
