Thomas Grace

Thomas Grace (August 2, 1841 – December 27, 1921) was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the second bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento in California from 1896 to his death in 1921.

Biography

Early life Thomas Grace was born on August 2, 1841, in Wexford, Ireland. Eventually, Grace became the pastor of the pro-cathedral, Saint Rose of Lima Church, whose land was donated by the first governor of California, Peter Burnett.

Bishop of Sacramento On February 27, 1896, Pope Leo XIII appointed Grace as bishop of Sacramento. He was consecrated on June 16, 1896, at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Sacramento by Archbishop Patrick Riordan.

Grace dedicated St. Patrick Church in Scotia, California, on March 28, 1905, and St. Joseph Church in Redding, California, in April 1905. On October 30, 1906, he was given the property deed in Red Bluff, California, with the provision that it remain as a hospital for the Sisters of Mercy. In June 1919, Grace dedicated St. Gall Church in Gardnerville, Nevada.

Grace helped launch the diocesan newspaper, The Catholic Herald, with a message endorsing its scope and usefulness to the diocese on March 14, 1908.

Death and legacy Patrick Grace died in Sacramento on December 27, 1921. Grace Day Home in Sacramento was named for him.