Table of Contents

Descriptive Summary
Biographical Note
Restrictions
Related Material
Copyright
Location

Descriptive Summary

Collection Name: Bishop O’Brien Collection
Dates: 1968-2002
Abstract: Correspondence, news clippings, booklets, letters, pictures

Biographical Note

Bishop Thomas Joseph O’Brien was born on November 29, 1935 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He attended St. Catherine’s Elementary School in Indianapolis and then St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana for his high school, college, and theological training. He was ordained at St. Meinrad Seminary on May 7, 1961 for the Diocese of Tucson. He served as Associate Pastor at Immaculate Conception Church, Douglas, St. Theresa’s Parish, Phoenix, and St. Gregory’s Parish, Phoenix. In 1969, when the Diocese of Phoenix was first established, he was appointed Chancellor of the Diocese and secretary to Bishop Edward A. McCarthy. He served in that capacity until 1978 when Bishop James S. Rausch, who also appointed him pastor of St. Catherine’s Parish in Phoenix in 1979, named him Vicar General. In 1981 he was made a prelate of honor (Monsignor) by Pope John Paul II. Then on January 6, 1982, Pope John Paul II at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome ordained the Most Reverend Thomas J. O’Brien Bishop. Bishop O’Brien became the third Bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix, Arizona.

Restrictions

None

Related Material

See Alive Magazine 1969 to 1983, Catholic Sun Newspaper 1985 to present

Copyright

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission from the owner of copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors), to use, quote, publish or to reproduce in any format material within these archives.

Location

Row: 1
Cabinet: 1
Draw: 2
Files: 1-21