Background
Thomas O'Gorman was born on May 1, 1843 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, son of John and Margaret (O'Keefe) O'Gorman. In 1848 his parents moved to Chicago, and later, to St. Paul, Minnesota.
Thomas O'Gorman was born on May 1, 1843 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, son of John and Margaret (O'Keefe) O'Gorman. In 1848 his parents moved to Chicago, and later, to St. Paul, Minnesota.
Thomas O'Gorman received his early schooling in Chicago, and later, in St. Paul, Minnesota. Bishop Joseph Cretin sent O'Gorman to study for the priesthood at the French seminaries of Meximieux and Monthel.
Ordained, November 5, 1865, in the St. Paul Cathedral by Bishop Thomas L. Grace, O'Gorman was stationed as pastor of St. John's Church, Rochester, Minnesota, until he joined the Congregation of St. Paul the Apostle (1878). As a Paulist, he served at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle, New York, and traveled throughout the United States on the mission band. Returning to St. Paul diocese, he was given the parish of the Immaculate Conception in Faribault (1882). Three years later, Bishop Ireland appointed him first rector of St. Thomas College, St. Paul, where he also taught dogmatic theology.
In 1890 he was called to the chair of ecclesiastical history in the recently established Catholic University of America in Washington. While there he wrote A History of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States (1895), which was well received. Besides this book, a printed lecture, How Catholics Come To Be Misunderstood, and an occasional fugitive article, he did little writing.
In 1896, through the nomination of Archbishop Ireland, he was appointed second bishop of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and consecrated, April 19, in St. Patrick's Church, Washington, D. C. , by Cardinal Satolli, the papal delegate. In 1902 he was selected by President Roosevelt to accompany Judge Taft on his mission to Rome for the settlement of the friar-land claims in the Philippines. As bishop, he saw his diocese thrive for a quarter of a century, the Catholic population grow from 30, 000 to 70, 000, the number of priests more than double; churches and missions increase, and large hospitals erected at Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, Milbank, Mitchell, Pierre, and Yankton. Especially interested in education, he built eighteen parochial schools; gave ample patronage to a number of academies; and founded in 1909 Columbus College at Chamberlain, South Dakota, under the Clerics of St. Viator, which in 1921 was superseded by a new institution at Sioux Falls, under specially trained diocesan priests.
Thomas O'Gorman died of a paralytic stroke in 1921.
Thomas O'Gorman wrote A History of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States (1895). During his service as Bishop of Sioux Falls (1896-1921), O'Gorman built eighteen parochial schools; gave ample patronage to a number of academies; founded in 1909 Columbus College at Chamberlain, South Dakota; twice increased the number of priests and Catholics in the diocese; and erected many churches and large hospitals. O'Gorman Catholic High School in Sioux Falls was named in his honor.
Of imposing appearance and a winning personality, Thomas O'Gorman had been an inspiring teacher and a good lecturer.
