Thomas Anthony Welch
American prelate
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Thomas Anthony Welch (November 2, 1884 – September 9, 1959) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of Duluth in Minnesota from 1926 until his death in 1959.
Thomas Anthony Welch | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Duluth | |
 | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| See | Diocese of Duluth |
| Predecessor | John T. McNicholas |
| Successor | Francis Joseph Schenk |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | June 11, 1909 by John Ireland |
| Consecration | February 3, 1926 by Austin Dowling |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 2, 1884 |
| Died | September 9, 1959 (aged 74) |
| Education | College of St. Thomas St. Paul Seminary |
| Motto | Vigilemus cum Christo (Let us watch with Christ) |
Biography
Early life
Thomas Welch was born on November 2, 1884, in Faribault, Minnesota, to Thomas J. and Ellen (née Deasy) Welch.[1] He studied at College of St. Thomas and St. Paul Seminary, both in St. Paul, Minnesota.[1] He was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of Saint Paul in St. Paul, Minnesota, for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis on June 11, 1909.[2]
Welch served as secretary to Archbishop John Ireland (1909–1918) and to his successor, Archbishop Austin Dowling (1919–1922).[1] He also served as chancellor (1918–1923) and vicar general of the archdiocese.[1] The Vatican named Welch as a domestic prelate in February 1924.[1]
Bishop of Duluth
On December 17, 1925, Welch was appointed the third bishop of Duluth by Pope Pius XI.[2] He received his episcopal consecration at the Cathedral of Saint Paul on February 3, 1926, from Archbishop Dowling, with Bishops James O'Reilly and Joseph Busch serving as co-consecrators.[2] During his 33-year tenure, Welch remedied the financial crisis in the diocese and also constructed the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary in Duluth.[3]
Thomas Welch died in Duluth on September 8, 1959, at age 74.[2]