Thomas Cusack (bishop)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Francis Cusack was an American
clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Bishop of Albany
from 1915 until his death in 1918.
to James and Honora (née Boland) Cusack. His parents were Irish
immigrants who came to the United States on their honeymoon. His childhood was spent on the Lower East Side
, and he made his early studies at the parochial school of St. James Church. He then attended St. Francis Xavier's College
, from where he graduated in 1880. His theological studies were made at St. Joseph's Seminary
in Troy
, where Cusack was ordained
to the priesthood
on May 30, 1885.
His first assignment was to St. Teresa's Church, where he remained until he was named pastor
of St. Peter's Church in Rosendale
in 1890. In 1897, he resigned his pastorate to organize the Archdiocesan Mission Society, of which he was also made superior
. During the Spanish–American War, he served as chaplain
at Camp Chickamauga
in Georgia
.
On March 11, 1904, Cusack was appointed auxiliary bishop
of New York and titular bishop
of Themiscyra
by Pope Pius X
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on the following April 25 from Archbishop John Murphy Farley, with Bishops Charles H. Colton
and James Augustine McFaul
serving as co-consecrators
, in St. Patrick's Cathedral
. In addition to his episcopal duties, he served as pastor of St. Stephen's Church from 1904 to 1915.
Cusack was named the fifth Bishop of Albany
by Pope Benedict XV
on July 5, 1915. He remained in this post for three years, when he died at the age of 56.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
clergyman 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 served as Bishop of Albany
Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany covers all or part of 14 counties in Eastern New York...
from 1915 until his death in 1918.
Biography
Thomas Cusack was born in New York CityNew 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...
to James and Honora (née Boland) Cusack. His parents were Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
immigrants who came to the United States on their honeymoon. His childhood was spent on the Lower East Side
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
, and he made his early studies at the parochial school of St. James Church. He then attended St. Francis Xavier's College
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...
, from where he graduated in 1880. His theological studies were made at St. Joseph's Seminary
St. Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie
St. Joseph's Seminary and College, sometimes referred to as Dunwoodie, after the Yonkers, New York neighborhood it is located in, is the major seminary of the Archdiocese of New York. Its primary mission is to form men for the priesthood in the Catholic Church...
in Troy
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
, where Cusack was ordained
Holy 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....
to 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....
on May 30, 1885.
His first assignment was to St. Teresa's Church, where he remained until he was named pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of St. Peter's Church in Rosendale
Rosendale, New York
Rosendale is a town in the center of Ulster County, New York, United States. It once contained a village of the same name, which was dissolved through a vote. The population was 6,075 at the 2010 census.- History :...
in 1890. In 1897, he resigned his pastorate to organize the Archdiocesan Mission Society, of which he was also made superior
Superior (hierarchy)
In a hierarchy or tree structure of any kind, a superior is an individual or position at a higher level in the hierarchy than another , and thus closer to the apex. It is often used in business terminology to refer to people who are supervisors and in the military to people who are higher in the...
. During the Spanish–American War, he served as chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
at Camp Chickamauga
Chickamauga, Georgia
Chickamauga is a city in Walker County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,245 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
On March 11, 1904, Cusack was appointed auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary 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 New York 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 Themiscyra
Themiscyra
In Greek mythology, Themiscyra was the capital of the nation of all-female warriors called Amazons, on the river Thermodon.- See also :* Themiscyra in popular culture* Themiscyra - Terme, Turkey-External links:*...
by Pope Pius X
Pope Pius X
Pope Saint Pius X , born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, was the 257th Pope of the Catholic Church, serving from 1903 to 1914. He was the first pope since Pope Pius V to be canonized. Pius X rejected modernist interpretations of Catholic doctrine, promoting traditional devotional practices and orthodox...
. 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 April 25 from Archbishop John Murphy Farley, with Bishops Charles H. Colton
Charles H. Colton
Charles Henry Colton was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Buffalo from 1903 until his death in 1915.-Early life and education:...
and James Augustine McFaul
James Augustine McFaul
James Augustine McFaul was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Trenton from 1894 until his death in 1917.-Biography:...
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...
, in St. Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York
The Cathedral of St. Patrick is a decorated Neo-Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral church in the United States...
. In addition to his episcopal duties, he served as pastor of St. Stephen's Church from 1904 to 1915.
Cusack was named the fifth Bishop of Albany
Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany covers all or part of 14 counties in Eastern New York...
by Pope Benedict XV
Pope Benedict XV
Pope Benedict XV , born Giacomo Paolo Giovanni Battista della Chiesa, reigned as Pope from 3 September 1914 to 22 January 1922...
on July 5, 1915. He remained in this post for three years, when he died at the age of 56.