Thomas Joseph Toolen

Thomas Joseph Toolen (February 28, 1886 – December 4, 1976) was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Mobile from 1927 to 1969, and was given the personal title of Archbishop in 1954.

Early life and education Thomas Joseph Toolen was born in Baltimore, Maryland, one of six children of Thomas and Mary (née Dowd) Toolen. His parents were both natives of County Roscommon, Ireland, and his father died in 1897. Toolen received his early education at the parochial school of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, and attended Loyola High School and Loyola College. He made his theological studies at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore.

Priesthood On September 27, 1910, Joseph Toolen was ordained a priest by Cardinal James Gibbons at the Cathedral of the Assumption. He then went to study canon law at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he earned a Bachelor's degree in 1912. He explained, "The Catholic system of education has been the greatest boon this country has ever known. We are prepared to take care of our children from the first grade to the university...Catholic parents must send their children to the Catholic school. Parents who do not obey are rebellious and should be treated as such." In 1948, however, he denied the request of Joseph Lawson Howze to be accepted as a seminarian for the Diocese of Mobile. He broke ground on Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Irondale on July 24, 1961, and dedicated the monastery on May 20, 1962.

Later life and death At age 83, Toolen resigned as Bishop of Mobile on September 29, 1969, after over forty years of service.