Charles Jerome Callan (1877–1962)

Author and theologian; b. Lockport, N.Y., Dec. 5, 1877; d. Milford, Conn., Feb. 26, 1962. He received his early education in the public schools of Niagara County, N.Y., and then attended Canisius College in Buffalo. Entering the Order of Preachers at St. Rose Priory, Spring-field, Ky., he was professed on Oct. 23, 1900. After ordination at Somerset, Ohio, June 29, 1905, he was sent to Fribourg, Switzerland, for further theological studies. He returned to the U.S. in 1909, and was appointed to the teaching staff of the Dominican House of Studies, Washington, D.C., as professor of philosophy arid Scriptural exegesis. He held that post until 1915, when he was sent to teach the same subjects at the newly opened major seminary of the Maryknoll Fathers, Maryknoll, N.Y. In 1916 he became co-editor with Father John A. McHugh of the Homiletic and Pastoral Review. The two collaborated not only in editorial work but in other writing as well. Together they wrote 16 works on theology, Sacred Scripture, and the liturgy. In addition to the works in collaboration with McHugh, Callan wrote or compiled seven books of his own, and two in collaboration with Father Thomas Reilly, on the Dominican liturgy. In 1931, Callan received the Dominican degree of Master of Sacred Theology, and in 1940 he was appointed by the Holy See as consultor of the Pontifical Biblical Commission.