Thomas Jerome Welsh

Thomas Jerome Welsh (December 20, 1921 – February 19, 2009) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania (1970–1974), as bishop of the Diocese of Arlington in Virginia (1974–1983) and as bishop of the Diocese of Allentown in Pennsylvania (1983–1997).

Biography

Early life Thomas Welsh was born on December 20, 1921, in Weatherly, Pennsylvania, one of five children of Edward C. and Mary A. (née Doheny) Welsh. Raised in a strict Irish Catholic family, he received his early education at the parochial school St. Nicholas Church in Weatherly. He then attended Schwab High School, also in Weatherly, and later began his studies for the priesthood at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1937.

Priesthood

On May 30, 1946, Welsh was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia by Cardinal Dennis Dougherty at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia After his ordination, the archdiocese sent Welsh to continue his studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he earned a doctorate in canon law in 1949. During his summers at the Catholic University, he served as a curate at St. Paul Parish in Philadelphia, Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Philadelphia, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

In 1949, Welsh became a professor at Southeast Catholic High School (now St. John Neumann High School) in Philadelphia.

During his tenure as rector, Welsh oversaw an extensive revision of the curriculum, which earned the seminary accreditation with the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools; the construction of a new theology wing named Vianney Hall; and the establishment the School of Religious Studies and the School of Pastoral Studies. The number of Catholics in Arlington increased from 154,000 to 179,000 under his tenure. During his tenure, Welsh established a "Stand Up For Life" campaign to encourage anti-abortion efforts, and frequently joined local abortion protesters for their monthly vigil at the Allentown Women's Clinic in Hanover Township.

Later life and death On December 15, 1997, John Paul II accepted Welsh's resignation as bishop of Allentown. He was succeeded by Bishop Edward Peter Cullen. During his retirement, Welsh continued to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation at parishes around the diocese.

Thomas Welsh died February 19, 2009, at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest in Allentown at age 87. He was buried in St. Nicholas Cemetery in Weatherly.