Thomas Francis Maloney
Encyclopedia
Most Reverend Thomas Francis Maloney (April 17, 1903–September 10, 1962) was a Roman Catholic priest
and subsequently bishop
who served as the sixth rector of the American College of the Immaculate Conception in Louvain
, Belgium
, and later as an auxiliary bishop
of the diocese of Providence
.
, Rhode Island
. As a seminarian for the diocese of Providence
, he studied at the American College of the Immaculate Conception in Louvain
, completing his studies in Louvain in 1930 and being ordained a priest
the same year.
Maloney's bishop, Most Reverend Russell McVinney
of the diocese of Providence, was keen to reopen the college. When McVinney became chair of the American College's new board of bishops in 1951, he appointed Maloney as the new rector. Maloney, as the first American to serve as rector of the college, faced the difficult challenge of rebuilding a seminary that had been dormant for more than a decade. The Naamsestraat property of the college was returned officially to the American bishops by the university
in 1952, with the blessing of the university's rector, Honoré van Waeyenbergh. Maloney arrived again in Louvain in spring of 1952, and made way for the arrival of the first 54 seminarians that autumn.
Maloney strove to connect his students with the traditions of the college, again celebrating patronal feasts, singing the college's characteristic hymn O Sodales
on feast days, and placing a portrait of the fourth rector of the college, Jules de Becker, in the dining room. Those first years were challenging ones for the students, due to physical deprivations, but the newly republished American College Bulletin nevertheless speaks to the spirit of fraternity that existed in the college in those years.
In 1955, Maloney began renovations of the American College building, leading up the centennial celebrations of the College in 1957. By 1957, the college had been significantly renovated, and the number of seminarians had risen to over one hundred as a result of the 1950s vocation
s boom in the United States. Maloney and van Waeyenbergh welcomed Maloney's ordinary, Bishop Russell McVinney
, and Bishop Fulton J. Sheen
, to the college for the celebration, both of whom received honorary doctorates from the university. Maloney remained as rector of the American College for three more years thereafter, caring for the thriving institution that he had rebuilt.
. As a result, he left his position as rector of the American College, and was consecrated as titular bishop
of Andropolis on the 11 May 1960. Tragically, he lived only two years after his ordination as bishop, dying in 1962 at the age of 59.
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and subsequently bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
who served as the sixth rector of the American College of the Immaculate Conception in Louvain
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, and later as an 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 the diocese of Providence
Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. The diocese was erected by Pope Pius IX on February 17, 1872 and originally comprised the entire state of Rhode Island and the counties of Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket in the state...
.
Early years and education
Maloney was born on 17 April 1903 in ProvidenceProvidence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. As a seminarian for the diocese of Providence
Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. The diocese was erected by Pope Pius IX on February 17, 1872 and originally comprised the entire state of Rhode Island and the counties of Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket in the state...
, he studied at the American College of the Immaculate Conception in Louvain
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
, completing his studies in Louvain in 1930 and being ordained a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
the same year.
Rector of the American College
Maloney's alma mater, the American College at Louvain, was shuttered in 1939 because of the imminent Second World War. It remained closed through the years of the war, and it was only in 1949 that the possibility of reopening the college began to be discussed again by the American bishops.Maloney's bishop, Most Reverend Russell McVinney
Russell McVinney
Russell Joseph McVinney was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Providence from 1948 until his death in 1971.-Early life and education:...
of the diocese of Providence, was keen to reopen the college. When McVinney became chair of the American College's new board of bishops in 1951, he appointed Maloney as the new rector. Maloney, as the first American to serve as rector of the college, faced the difficult challenge of rebuilding a seminary that had been dormant for more than a decade. The Naamsestraat property of the college was returned officially to the American bishops by the university
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a Dutch-speaking university in Flanders, Belgium.It is located at the centre of the historic town of Leuven, and is a prominent part of the city, home to the university since 1425...
in 1952, with the blessing of the university's rector, Honoré van Waeyenbergh. Maloney arrived again in Louvain in spring of 1952, and made way for the arrival of the first 54 seminarians that autumn.
Maloney strove to connect his students with the traditions of the college, again celebrating patronal feasts, singing the college's characteristic hymn O Sodales
O Sodales
O Sodales is a Roman Catholic hymn to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is also the signature song of the American College of the Immaculate Conception, the American seminary located in Leuven, Belgium, which has maintained the hymn over the past century and a half....
on feast days, and placing a portrait of the fourth rector of the college, Jules de Becker, in the dining room. Those first years were challenging ones for the students, due to physical deprivations, but the newly republished American College Bulletin nevertheless speaks to the spirit of fraternity that existed in the college in those years.
In 1955, Maloney began renovations of the American College building, leading up the centennial celebrations of the College in 1957. By 1957, the college had been significantly renovated, and the number of seminarians had risen to over one hundred as a result of the 1950s vocation
Vocation
A vocation , is a term for an occupation to which a person is specially drawn or for which they are suited, trained or qualified. Though now often used in non-religious contexts, the meanings of the term originated in Christianity.-Senses:...
s boom in the United States. Maloney and van Waeyenbergh welcomed Maloney's ordinary, Bishop Russell McVinney
Russell McVinney
Russell Joseph McVinney was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Providence from 1948 until his death in 1971.-Early life and education:...
, and Bishop Fulton J. Sheen
Fulton J. Sheen
Servant of God Fulton John Sheen, born Peter John Sheen was an American archbishop of the Catholic Church known for his preaching and especially his work on television and radio...
, to the college for the celebration, both of whom received honorary doctorates from the university. Maloney remained as rector of the American College for three more years thereafter, caring for the thriving institution that he had rebuilt.
Auxiliary Bishop of Providence
On 2 January 1960, Maloney was appointed the auxiliary bishop of Providence by Pope John XXIIIPope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
. As a result, he left his position as rector of the American College, and was consecrated as 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 Andropolis on the 11 May 1960. Tragically, he lived only two years after his ordination as bishop, dying in 1962 at the age of 59.