The Dominicans Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus

Fr. Raphael Joseph Corcoran, OP

Fr. Raphael was born in Cordelia, California, which is about fifteen miles from Vallejo and was ministered by the Dominicans.  He entered as a postulant at the age of seventeen.  At this time he was finishing his preliminary studies so that he could study philosophy and theology.  He entered the Novitiate after two years and after first profession was solemnly professed after four years.  During his years of Novitiate and study he played baseball with the other Dominicans.  One year St. Mary's College baseball team came to Benicia and the Dominicans defeated them.

After ordination he worked as a parish priest.  Unfortunately he became seriously ill for a few years.  After recovery, he ministered in a few of our parishes, before going on to teach English at Rosaryville, a College in Louisiana.  He returned to California, but his health rapidly declined.  He had a heart attack in 1933, and died in Pittsburg, California in 1936.  He died at the age of fifty-six.  He was remembered for his sense of humor and his love of Dominican community.

Photo: Rosaryville, where he taught for a year

Date of Birth

Date of Profession

Date of Ordination

Date of Death

December 12, 1879

October 10, 1899

June 10, 1904

May 2, 1936

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