Born Thomas Michael Monaghan on April 6, 1910 in Chicago, Illinois, he was educated at Visitation Parish before he went to the Passionist Preparatory Seminary, Normandy, Missouri in August 1932. He professed his vows on August 1, 1928 and was ordained on June 6, 1936 in Des Moines, Iowa by Bishop Bergan. He served as a professor at the Prep Seminary in Normandy, hospital chaplain at Hines Memorial Hospital for veterans and vice-rector of St. Gabriel’s Retreat, Des Monies. He then became a military chaplain in the Army in the South Pacific. He set sail in December 1942 after he had resigned his position of vice-rector. He was one of the first military chaplains in Holy Cross Province to see military action. He was assigned to the 162nd Infantry Regiment of the 41st Division which fought in the New Guinea campaign. An article on August 11, 1943 in the Chicago Sun gave a summary of some of the challenges he faced. At Roosevelt Ridge his service awarded him the Silver Star. In December 1943 he came down with tropical malaria while he was in Australia. He stayed there for a period of rest before he returned to the campaign in New Guinea. After a period of time he was transferred to the 126th Infantry Regiment of the 32nd Division. He was killed in action at Luzon, Philippines.
Birth Date:
April 6, 1910
Profession Date:
August 1, 1928
Ordination Date:
June 6, 1936
Death Date:
April 7, 1945