Thomas Aloysius Boland
Encyclopedia
Thomas Aloysius Boland (February 17, 1896—March 16, 1979) was an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He was Archbishop of Newark
from 1952 to 1974, having previously served as Auxiliary Bishop of Newark
(1940-47) and Bishop of Paterson
(1947-52).
, New Jersey
, to John Peter and Ellen Agnes (née O'Rourke) Boland. He received his early education at the parochial school
of St. John the Evangelist Church in Orange. He then attended St. Francis Xavier High School
in New York City
.
In 1915, Boland enrolled at Seton Hall College
in South Orange
. He graduated from Seton Hall in 1919 as valedictorian
of his class. He then began his studies for the priesthood
at the Pontifical North American College
in Rome
. He earned a Doctor of Sacred Theology
degree from the University of Propaganda
.
a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark
at the Basilica of St. John Lateran
. Following his return to New Jersey, he was first assigned as a curate
at St. Catherine's Church in Hillside
. He also served at St. Mary's Church in Nutley
. In addition to his pastoral duties, he taught Sacred Scripture
and classical language
s at Seton Hall Preparatory School
and Seton Hall College.
From 1926 to 1938, Boland served as professor of moral theology
and canon law
at Immaculate Conception Seminary
in Darlington. In 1933, he became an official of the archdiocesan tribunal with the duty of adjudicating marriages of questionable validity. That same year, he was named moderator of priests' conferences. He was chancellor
of the archdiocese from 1938 to 1940.
of Newark and Titular Bishop
of Hirina by Pope Pius XII
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on the following July 25 from Archbishop Thomas Walsh, with Bishops William A. Griffin and Bartholomew J. Eustace
serving as co-consecrators
. As an auxiliary bishop, he served as rector
of Immaculate Conception Seminary from 1940 to 1947. In this capacity, he taught pastoral theology and liturgy and lectured on the archdiocesan statutes. He also served as director of the Newark branch of the National Organization for Decent Literature, and as promoter of the archdiocesan synod
held in 1941.
Following the death of Bishop Thomas H. McLaughlin
, Boland was named the second Bishop of Paterson
on June 21, 1947. His installation took place at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
on September 18 of that year. As bishop of Paterson, he served as the spiritual leader of 135,000 Catholics in North Jersey
for five years.
Boland was appointed the second Archbishop of Newark
on November 15, 1952. He was installed at Sacred Heart Church in Vailsburg
on January 14, 1953. On October 19, 1954, he formally dedicated the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
in Newark. At the same ceremony, he received the pallium
, a vestment worn by metropolitan bishop
s, from Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, the Apostolic Delegate to the United States.
Between 1962 and 1965, Boland attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council
in Rome, where he was elected to head the Bishops' Study Committee. In June 1965, he was named an Assistant at the Pontifical Throne
by Pope Paul VI
for "establishing numerous parishes
, opening many parochial schools and admitting the laity
to active participation in the apostolate of the sacred ecclesiastical hierarchy." He was also a member of the Catholic Mission Board of the United States, chair of the Episcopal Committee, and liaison between women religious
and the American Catholic bishops.
In January 1969, a group of 20 priests of the Archdiocese of Newark accused Boland of adopting a "white racist attitude" toward African American
s and said he must be charged with "the bigotry of indolence and the prejudice of apathy." Along with these accusations of racism, the group of priests presented a list of demands, which called for the formation of an advisory committee of priests for inner-city affairs, an improved method of screening priests in African American areas, and the transfer of some pastors who have "not proven a predisposition for justice by their performance." In response, Boland issued a seven-page report that outlined the programs the archdiocese had taken in regard to African Americans. He declared, "No one can truthfully say I have not made every effort to bring to reality those plans which I have felt could be of advantage, whether for spiritual or temporal goals, of the disadvantaged in our midst.
of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He was Archbishop of Newark
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark
The Archdiocese of Newark is an archdiocese of the Catholic Church in northern New Jersey, United States. Its ecclesiastic territory includes all of the Catholic parishes and schools in the New Jersey counties of Bergen, Union, Hudson and Essex .-History:Originally established as the Diocese of...
from 1952 to 1974, having previously served as Auxiliary Bishop of Newark
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark
The Archdiocese of Newark is an archdiocese of the Catholic Church in northern New Jersey, United States. Its ecclesiastic territory includes all of the Catholic parishes and schools in the New Jersey counties of Bergen, Union, Hudson and Essex .-History:Originally established as the Diocese of...
(1940-47) and Bishop of Paterson
Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson
The Diocese of Paterson is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States, which includes three counties in northern New Jersey: Passaic, Morris, and Sussex. The city of Paterson, third-largest in the state of New Jersey, was chosen as the episcopal see, even though...
(1947-52).
Early life and education
Thomas Boland was born in OrangeOrange, New Jersey
The City of Orange is a city and township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 30,134...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, to John Peter and Ellen Agnes (née O'Rourke) Boland. He received his early education at the parochial school
Parochial school
A parochial school is a school that provides religious education in addition to conventional education. In a narrower sense, a parochial school is a Christian grammar school or high school which is part of, and run by, a parish.-United Kingdom:...
of St. John the Evangelist Church in Orange. He then attended St. Francis Xavier High School
Xavier High School (New York City)
Xavier High School is a independent Jesuit university-preparatory high school for young men located at 30 West 16th Street, in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. It was founded in 1847, as the College of St. Francis Xavier by Father John Larkin, S.J...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
In 1915, Boland enrolled at Seton Hall College
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University is a private Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the United States. Seton Hall is also the oldest and largest Catholic university in the...
in South Orange
South Orange, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 16,964 people, 5,522 households, and 3,766 families residing in the township. The population density was 5,945.3 people per square mile . There were 5,671 housing units at an average density of 1,987.5 per square mile...
. He graduated from Seton Hall in 1919 as valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
of his class. He then began his studies for the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
at the Pontifical North American College
Pontifical North American College
The Pontifical North American College is a Roman Catholic educational institution in Rome, Italy educating seminarians for the dioceses in the United States and providing a residence for American priests studying in Rome. It was founded in 1859 by Blessed Pope Pius IX and was granted pontifical...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. He earned a Doctor of Sacred Theology
Doctor of Sacred Theology
The Doctor of Sacred Theology is the final theological degree in the pontifical university system of the Catholic Church....
degree from the University of Propaganda
Pontifical Urbaniana University
The Pontifical Urbaniana University or Pontifical Urban University is a pontifical university under the authority of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.-History:...
.
Priesthood
On December 23, 1922, Boland was ordainedHoly Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark
The Archdiocese of Newark is an archdiocese of the Catholic Church in northern New Jersey, United States. Its ecclesiastic territory includes all of the Catholic parishes and schools in the New Jersey counties of Bergen, Union, Hudson and Essex .-History:Originally established as the Diocese of...
at the Basilica of St. John Lateran
Basilica of St. John Lateran
The Papal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran , commonly known as St. John Lateran's Archbasilica and St. John Lateran's Basilica, is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome and the official ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome, who is the Pope...
. Following his return to New Jersey, he was first assigned as a curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at St. Catherine's Church in Hillside
Hillside, New Jersey
Hillside is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 21,404.Hillside was incorporated as a township on April 3, 1913, from portions of Union Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 29, 1913.The town...
. He also served at St. Mary's Church in Nutley
Nutley, New Jersey
2010 Census Data:*TOTAL: 28,370 or 100%*White: 23,405 *African American: 628 *Asian: 2,824 *American Indian and Alaska Native: 36 *Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 4...
. In addition to his pastoral duties, he taught Sacred Scripture
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
and classical language
Classical language
A classical language is a language with a literature that is classical. According to UC Berkeley linguist George L. Hart, it should be ancient, it should be an independent tradition that arose mostly on its own, not as an offshoot of another tradition, and it must have a large and extremely rich...
s at Seton Hall Preparatory School
Seton Hall Preparatory School
Seton Hall Preparatory School, generally called Seton Hall Prep, is a Roman Catholic boys' high school located in the suburban community of West Orange in Essex County, New Jersey, operating under the supervision of the Archdiocese of Newark...
and Seton Hall College.
From 1926 to 1938, Boland served as professor of moral theology
Ethics in religion
Most religions have an ethical component, often derived from purported supernatural revelation or guidance. "For many people, ethics is not only tied up with religion, but is completely settled by it...
and canon law
Canon law (Catholic Church)
The canon law of the Catholic Church, is a fully developed legal system, with all the necessary elements: courts, lawyers, judges, a fully articulated legal code and principles of legal interpretation. It lacks the necessary binding force present in most modern day legal systems. The academic...
at Immaculate Conception Seminary
Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology
The Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology is part of Seton Hall University, the Roman Catholic university of New Jersey, and is located in South Orange. ICCST is one of the oldest Catholic seminaries in the United States. The university is the oldest diocesan university in the country....
in Darlington. In 1933, he became an official of the archdiocesan tribunal with the duty of adjudicating marriages of questionable validity. That same year, he was named moderator of priests' conferences. He was chancellor
Chancellor (ecclesiastical)
Two quite distinct officials of some Christian churches have the title Chancellor.*In some churches, the Chancellor of a diocese is a lawyer who represents the church in legal matters....
of the archdiocese from 1938 to 1940.
Episcopacy
On May 21, 1940, Boland was appointed Auxiliary BishopAuxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Newark and Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Hirina by Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
. He received his episcopal
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
on the following July 25 from Archbishop Thomas Walsh, with Bishops William A. Griffin and Bartholomew J. Eustace
Bartholomew J. Eustace
Bartholomew Joseph Eustace was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Camden from 1938 until his death in 1956.-Early life and priesthood:...
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
. As an auxiliary bishop, he served as rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Immaculate Conception Seminary from 1940 to 1947. In this capacity, he taught pastoral theology and liturgy and lectured on the archdiocesan statutes. He also served as director of the Newark branch of the National Organization for Decent Literature, and as promoter of the archdiocesan synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
held in 1941.
Following the death of Bishop Thomas H. McLaughlin
Thomas H. McLaughlin
Thomas Henry McLaughlin was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as President of Seton Hall College and Bishop of Paterson .-Biography:...
, Boland was named the second Bishop of Paterson
Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson
The Diocese of Paterson is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States, which includes three counties in northern New Jersey: Passaic, Morris, and Sussex. The city of Paterson, third-largest in the state of New Jersey, was chosen as the episcopal see, even though...
on June 21, 1947. His installation took place at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (Paterson, New Jersey)
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is a historic church at Main and Grand Streets in Paterson, New Jersey.It was built in 1865 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.-References:...
on September 18 of that year. As bishop of Paterson, he served as the spiritual leader of 135,000 Catholics in North Jersey
North Jersey
North Jersey is a colloquial term, with no precise consensus definition, for the northern portion of the U.S. state of New Jersey. A straightforward, noncolloquial term for the region is northern New Jersey.- Two-portion approaches :...
for five years.
Boland was appointed the second Archbishop of Newark
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark
The Archdiocese of Newark is an archdiocese of the Catholic Church in northern New Jersey, United States. Its ecclesiastic territory includes all of the Catholic parishes and schools in the New Jersey counties of Bergen, Union, Hudson and Essex .-History:Originally established as the Diocese of...
on November 15, 1952. He was installed at Sacred Heart Church in Vailsburg
Vailsburg, Newark
Vailsburg is a neighborhood in the West ward of Newark, New Jersey elevation 280 ft. As of 2000, Vailsburg has a population of 34,348. The Vailsburg section of Newark seems to stick out from the rest of the area, not only geographically, but because of its hodgepodge of suburban, urban and park...
on January 14, 1953. On October 19, 1954, he formally dedicated the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Newark, New Jersey
The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the fifth-largest cathedral in North America, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. It is located at 89 Ridge Street in Newark, New Jersey. Envisioned as a "fitting monument to the faith," construction began in 1899 and was finished in...
in Newark. At the same ceremony, he received the pallium
Pallium
The pallium is an ecclesiastical vestment in the Roman Catholic Church, originally peculiar to the Pope, but for many centuries bestowed by him on metropolitans and primates as a symbol of the jurisdiction delegated to them by the Holy See. In that context it has always remained unambiguously...
, a vestment worn by metropolitan bishop
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
s, from Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, the Apostolic Delegate to the United States.
Between 1962 and 1965, Boland attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
in Rome, where he was elected to head the Bishops' Study Committee. In June 1965, he was named an Assistant at the Pontifical Throne
Assistant at the Pontifical Throne
Assistant at the Pontifical Throne is an ecclesiastical title in the Roman Catholic Church. It signifies a prelate belonging to the papal chapel, who stands near the throne of the Pope at solemn functions....
by Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
for "establishing numerous parishes
Parish (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, a parish is the lowest ecclesiastical geographical subdivision: from ecclesiastical province to diocese to deanery to parish.-Requirements:A parish needs two things under common law to become a parish...
, opening many parochial schools and admitting the laity
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
to active participation in the apostolate of the sacred ecclesiastical hierarchy." He was also a member of the Catholic Mission Board of the United States, chair of the Episcopal Committee, and liaison between women religious
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
and the American Catholic bishops.
In January 1969, a group of 20 priests of the Archdiocese of Newark accused Boland of adopting a "white racist attitude" toward African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
s and said he must be charged with "the bigotry of indolence and the prejudice of apathy." Along with these accusations of racism, the group of priests presented a list of demands, which called for the formation of an advisory committee of priests for inner-city affairs, an improved method of screening priests in African American areas, and the transfer of some pastors who have "not proven a predisposition for justice by their performance." In response, Boland issued a seven-page report that outlined the programs the archdiocese had taken in regard to African Americans. He declared, "No one can truthfully say I have not made every effort to bring to reality those plans which I have felt could be of advantage, whether for spiritual or temporal goals, of the disadvantaged in our midst.
Later life and death
He retired as Archbishop of Newark on April 2, 1974, after twenty-one years of service. He died at St. Mary's Hospital in Orange, aged 83. He was buried in the cryptCrypt
In architecture, a crypt is a stone chamber or vault beneath the floor of a burial vault possibly containing sarcophagi, coffins or relics....
of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.