Thomas Arthur Connolly

Thomas Arthur Connolly (October 5, 1899 – April 18, 1991) was an American Catholic prelate who served as the fifth bishop and first archbishop of Seattle in Washington State from 1950 to 1975. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Francisco in California from 1939 to 1950.

Connolly supported the American civil rights movement, ecumenical programs, and labor rights issues. He also attended the Second Vatican Council in Rome.

Biography

Early life Thomas Connolly was born on October 5, 1899, in San Francisco, California, to Thomas and Catherine (née Gilsenan) Connolly. He studied at St. Patrick Seminary in Menlo Park, California.

Priesthood Connolly was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Edward Hanna for the Archdiocese of San Francisco on June 11, 1926. After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned Connolly as a curate at St. Rose Parish in Santa Rosa, California, and St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish in Sausalito, California. He renovated St. James Cathedral; established 43 new parishes; and built over 350 churches, schools, rectories, convents, parish halls and religious education centers. The Vatican named Connolly as assistant at the pontifical throne in 1959. Connolly attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council in Rome between 1962 and 1965. He was an outspoken supporter of the American civil rights movement, ecumenism, and anti-abortion rights issues.

Retirement On February 13, 1975, Pope Paul VI accepted Connolly's resignation as archbishop of Seattle. Thomas Connolly died on April 18, 1991, in Seattle.