1920 – 1972 (September 21)
Angelo M. Allegrini was born on April 19, 1920, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Pietro Allegrini and Maria Bonugli. He grew up in Old Saint Augustine Parish, Philadelphia, where he received his elementary education. In September, 1934, he entered Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York. After graduation he attended Manhattan College in New York, from which he graduated “cum laude” in May, 1943. He was then received into the Order as a novice at Saint Augustine Monastery, Nova Scotia, Canada, and professed first vows on June 28, 1944 as a member of the Philadelphia Vice Province. He completed his theological studies at Saint Francis Seminary, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was ordained to the priesthood in the Milwaukee Cathedral by Archbishop Moses E. Kiley on June 7, 1947.
Father Angelo was first assigned to Saint Mary’s Parish, East Vineland, New Jersey, where he was named pastor of the parish and its three missions in Mispah, Dorothy and Richland. In June, 1958, Prior General Engelbert Eberhardt, appointed Father Angelo Commissary Provincial of the Vice Province. His first major achievement in that role was the establishment of Saint Augustine Preparatory School, Richland, New Jersey, a school for both candidates to the Order and lay students.
In June, 1961, when his term as Commissary Provincial ended, he was named pastor of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Parish, Philadelphia. During his ten years as pastor he renovated the upper and lower churches, refurbished the old parish school, and constructed the new school annex. His keen awareness of the social needs of the parish resulted in the establishment of the Holy Child Day Care Center. In June, 1967, he was again appointed the Vice Province’s Commissary Provincial. In 1968, during the special General Chapter of the Order at Villanova, Father Angelo was elected one of the three priors of the Chapter. In June, 1970, he was again re-elected Commissary Provincial and continued to serve as pastor of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Parish, Philadelphia.
In 1971, Father Angelo suffered a heart attack and relinquished his pastorate of Saint Nicholas Parish. In 1972, he committed the services of the Vice Province to the Diocese of Camden by accepting an inner city parish in Camden, New Jersey, Holy Name Parish, where he then served as temporary administrator.
Father Allegrini died from heart failure on September 21, 1972, at the age of 52, while on vacation. Two Funeral Masses were celebrated: at Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Church, Philadelphia, where Father Charles Pickar, O.S.A., Assistant General, was principal celebrant, and at Saint Mary’s, East Vineland. At the latter Mass, Father Joseph Toscani, O.S.A. was principal celebrant, and Father Peter Toscani, O.S.A., preached. Bishop George Guilfoyle presided. Interment was in the Augustinian section of Saint Mary’s Parish Cemetery.
