Background
Walsh, Thomas Joseph was born on December 6, 1873 in Parker’s Landing, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Thomas and Ellen (Curtin) Walsh.
archbishop bishop Catholic priest
Walsh, Thomas Joseph was born on December 6, 1873 in Parker’s Landing, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Thomas and Ellen (Curtin) Walsh.
Educated College and Seminary of Saint Bonaventure (Allegany, New York), University of Saint Appollinaris, the Pontifical Roman Seminary, Rome, Italy, receiving South.T.D. and Juris Canonici Doctor, Juris Civilis Doctor. Doctor of Laws, Saint Bonaventure, 1913.
He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop James Edward Quigley on January 27, 1900. He then served as a curate at Saint Joseph"s Cathedral until the following June 25, when he became chancellor of the Diocese of Buffalo and private secretary to Bishop Quigley. In 1907 Bishop Charles H. Colton sent him to further his studies in Rome at the Pontifical Athenaeum South. Apollinare, from where he earned a doctorate in canon law (June 19, 1907) and later a doctorate in theology (June 19, 1908).
Upon his return to Buffalo, he resumed his duties as diocesan chancellor and secretary to the bishop.
He was named rector of Saint Joseph"s Cathedral in 1915. On May 10, 1918, Walsh was appointed Bishop of Trenton, New Jersey, by Pope Benedict XV. He received his episcopal consecration on the following July 25 from Archbishop Giovanni Bonzano, with Bishops Dennis Joseph Dougherty and John Joseph O"Connor serving as co-consecrators.
Following the death of Bishop O"Connor in May 1927, Walsh was named Bishop of Newark on March 2, 1928. He was installed at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on the following May 1.
He raised $2 million in 25 days to build Immaculate Conception Seminary in 1936, and encouraged Seton Hall Preparatory School and Seton Hall College to receive state accreditation.
Upon the elevation of the Diocese of Newark to the rank of archdiocese by Pope Pius XI, Walsh was appointed its first Archbishop on December 10, 1937. He later died at age 78.