Fr. Diomede Falconio OFM 

2nd President

1868-69


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    When Fr. Pamfilo, St. Bonaventure's first president, left the United States in 1867 to return to Rome, the college and the seminary were placed in charge of his secretary, Father Diomede Falconio. When a new Custos Provincial was appointed to take the place of Father Pamphilus, the provincial chapter of 1868 selected the twenty-six year old as the second president of St. Bonaventure's College and the rector of the Seminary. The appointment was made on August 20, 1868, Falconio remaining St. Bonaventure's  youngest president, and likewise its most distinguished, as he was later made a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.

    Fr. Diomede was born in Pecocostanza, Italy on  September 27, 1842. At the age of eighteen he entered the Franciscan Order and was given the name Diomede by which he was afterward known .  He pursued philosophical and theological studies in his native land, and was a deacon  when forced to leave the country because of anti-clericalism. In the company of two Franciscan priests, he arrived in the United States on December 5, 1865, and continued on to Allegany in time to celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. He was ordained on January 4, 1866 and for the next two years he taught philosophy and theology, and was appointed the second President of the St. Bonaventure College and Seminary in 1868. 

   Fr. Diomede's term of office was distinguished by the completion of the St. Bonaventure Church, which became the parish church of Allegany. This building joined the two wings that housed the Franciscan  community with the college and seminary proper. It was completed June 13, 1869.     

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Biographical Data

NAME: FALCONIO, DIOMEDE (FR) (OFM)

OTHER NAMES /SPELLINGS: BAPTISMAL: JANUARIUS, ANGELUS RAPHAEL

DATE OF BIRTH:1842-09-27

PLACE OF BIRTH: PECOCOSTANZA, ITALY

RECEPTION INTO ORDER:1860

ORDINATION DATE:1866-01-04

WHERE ORDAINED: CATHEDRAL AT BUFFALO BY BISHOP TIMON

SERVED AT SBU: AUGUST 1867-1871

SERVED AS PRESIDENT: AUGUST 20,1868-1869

SERVED ELSEWHERE: SECRETARY  TO CUSTOS-AUG.1867\1871-11-29-RECTOR OF CATHEDRAL, SECRETARY AND CHANCELLOR OF DIOCESE IN NEWFOUNDLAND\DEC.1833 PROVINCIAL OF ABRUZZI PROVINCE-LATER PROCURATOR GENERAL IN ABRUZZI.  1892-BISHOP OF LACEDONIA\1895 ARCHBISHOP OF ARCENZA AND MATERA\1899 FIRST PERMANENT APOSTOLIC DELEGATE TO CANADA\1902-09-30 THIRD APOSTOLIC DELEGATE TO UNITED STATES\1911-11-27 CARDINAL OF ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH\1914 CARDINAL BISHOP OF SUBURBAN ROMAN SEC. OF VELLETRI\1916 PREFECT OF THE SACRED CONGREGATION OF THE RELIGIONS

DEATH DATE: 1917-02-17

BURIAL PLACE: ROME, ITALY

BUILDINGS NAMED AFTER: ST. BONAVENTURE UNIVERSITY-FALCONIO RESIDENCE HALL

Bibliography:

Angelo,  Mark V., OFM. The History of St. Bonaventure University. St. Bonaventure, NY: Franciscan Institute, 1961. 

Hammon, Walter,  OFM. The First Bonaventure Men. Paterson, NJ: St. Anthony Guild Press, 1958. 

St. Bonaventure University Archives Presidents Files

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This page was created by Kevin Lawless as part of an internship during the Fall 2004 semester.  Any changes, other than minor editing, are noted at the bottom of the page.

For information about the Archives' collections contact:

Dennis Frank 
(archives@sbu.edu)
Archivist
telephone: 716.375.2322

Created 08/30/04 by Kevin Lawless
Last updated:  9/30/2019