Father O'Hanlon Council #4678
Father O'Hanlon Council #4678
State College Knights of Columbus

Rev. Fr. Byron Aloysius O’Hanlon, OSB

  Born  - February 27, 1870

  Ordained  - July 15, 1894

  Died  - July 27, 1932, age 62

Fr. O’Hanlon was born at Pittsburgh and studied for the priesthood at St. Vincent Benedictine Abbey, Belmont, North Carolina, after ordination his first assignment was at St. John the Evangelist, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania where he served until coming to State College and served also as Chaplain at Rockview Penitentiary and the Pennsylvania State College later to be known as the  Pennsylvania State University.  He first celebrated Mass at the Agricultural Building and then Schwab Auditorium on campus, through his efforts Our Lady of Victory Chapel was erected on Fairmont Avenue. 

 Fr. O’Hanlon was known as an orator, extensive traveler and a student of William Shakespeare.  He had a deep attachment for learning and was a guide and friend to Catholic students and the great institution that he was so wholeheartedly devoted.  He was widely noted and respected throughout Centre County by his parishioners and those of other creeds.  His death cut short his long cherished desire to celebrate in November of 1933 the silver anniversary of his coming to the quiet, beautiful little college town.  A solemn requiem funeral Mass was said at Our Lady of Victory on Saturday July 30, 1932, he was later interred in the priests plot at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Pittsburgh.  

In 1958 a new Knights of Columbus Council #4678 was chartered at State College and Fr. Byron O’Hanlon was selected as their namesake in recognition of him being the first Pastor to serve at State College and the Centre region.  In April of 2022 the State College Knights of Columbus were invited to move into space in the basement of Our Lady of Victory Activities Center and they named their new home Father O’Hanlon Hall.