Thomas Patrick McLoughlin

Born in Brooklyn, NY, 17 September 1859.

Life is portrayed in the book "Father Tom: Life and Lectures of Rev. Thomas P. McLoughlin" by his brother, Peter P. McLoughlin, published in 1919 and dedicated to Jennie and Nonie, loving sisters of Father Tom.

States his granduncle was Patrick McSweeny, President of the Irish College in Paris for forty years

Eldest son of John and Mary Frances.

1874 Tom entered Fordham College. A friend states he was a "handsome, kindly-faced, fair-haired boy of great charm of manner, enhanced by a voice that was one of the most delightful I had ever heard from a human being."

1877, May, chosen as one of the class orators. 1878 received a prize for excellence in elocation and a silver medal for Belle Lettres.

Sept 21 1878 sailed from New York, arrived Rome Oct 11. Student at the North American College in Rome, studying for the priesthood for six years.

1883, May 19 ordained "Deacon" .....Rome, Italy.

June 7 1884 Ordained "Priest" in the Church of St. John Lateran, the Cardinal Vicar of Rome - His Eminence Raphael Cardinal Monaco LaValetta - officiating.

He left Rome on June 19 1884 to return o the USA via Germany and Ireland (visiting his father's and grandparents' Shanlis Farm in Ardee, Co. Louth and his mother's kinfolk - Dan McSwiney in Cork), departing on the "City of Chester" from Queenstown, arriving in New York on August 10 1884 and being greeted by his whole family.

His uncle - also Thomas McLoughlin (born 1826 in Ireland, the same year as his brother Peter left for America) - was assigned by Bishop John Hughes in 1853 to found the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in New Rochelle, New York. He covered many outlying areas - all the way to Westchester and Mount Vernon, New York and Stamford Connecticut. Many persecuted Irish Catholics found their way to New Rochelle and made this their church. In 1845 it was Peter who sent for Thomas (the uncle) to come to America.

[Source: "Father_Tom_ Life and Lectures" by Peter McLoughlin]

'Father Tom' was later pastor of the same church in New Rochelle.

1896, 23 Jan received new passport with intention of returning 'after three months'. He visited Egypt and the Holy Land. The passport states he was 36 yrs old, 5'9", had light blue eyes, light hair, full face, (Source: Passport Applications, 1795-1905; National Archives Microfilm Publication M1372, 694 rolls); General Records of the Department of State, Record Group 59; National Archives, Washington, D.C.)

1905 returned to Europe (toured cathedral towns of England and Spain, and Ireland) on a trip with his brother Peter. Met with a cousin Canon (later Papal Prelate and Monsignor) Denis McSwiney of St. Peter and Paul in Cork, as well as other cousins - siblings of Denis.

1910 April, he took the German liner "Cincinatti" and visited Aix-les-Bains and Annecy in France, Bad Nauheim in Germany and the Shrine of our Lady in Lourdes. There a doctor told him the reason for his bad health and breathing problems........"an enlargement of the heart brought on by kidney trouble".

1910, June 30 - he visited the American College, where he had studied many years before, and wrote of an audience with Pope Pius X in Rome, where he could not kneel because of a rheumatic knee, to which the Holy Father replied "do not worry..sit right down beside me and make yourself at home". [Source: "Father_Tom_ Life and Lectures" by Peter McLoughlin]

1912 visited many specialists for his health problems and was ordered absolute rest for two months, which he took in the summer on Long Island at Point 'O Woods.

Monday, 17 February 1913 (aged 53) died at New Rochelle, NY, USA