Thomas Francis Cusack | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Albany Titular Bishop ofThemiscyra | |
 | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| See | Diocese of Albany |
| Predecessor | Thomas Martin Aloysius Burke |
| Successor | Edmund Gibbons |
| Other post | Titular Bishop ofThemiscyra |
| Previous post | Auxiliary Bishop of New York |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 30, 1885 by Francis McNeirny |
| Consecration | April 25, 1904 by John Murphy Farley,Charles H. Colton andJames Augustine McFaul |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1862-02-22)February 22, 1862 New York City, US |
| Died | Albany, New York, US |
| Education | St. Joseph's Provincial Seminary |
| Motto | Alias oves habeo (I have other sheep) |
Thomas Francis Cusack (February 22, 1862 – July 12, 1918) was an American prelate of theRoman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of theDiocese of Albany in New York from 1915 until his death in 1918. Cusack previously served as an auxiliary bishop of theArchdiocese of New York from 1904 to 1915.
Thomas Cusack was born on February 22, 1862, inManhattan to James and Honora (née Boland) Cusack.[1] His parents were Irish immigrants who came to the United States on their honeymoon.[2] His childhood was spent on theLower East Side of Manhattan, where he attended the parochial school ofSt. James Parish.[3]
Cusack then went to high school atSt. Francis Xavier's College in Manhattan, graduating there in 1880.[3] He continued his preparation for the priesthood at St. Joseph's Provincial Seminary inTroy, New York.[2]
Cusack was ordained to thepriesthood at St. Joseph's for the Archdiocese of New York on May 30, 1885, by BishopFrancis McNeirny.[4] After his 1885 ordination, the archdiocese assigned Cusack to the pastoral staff ofSt. Teresa's Parish in Manhattan.[2]
Cusack left New York City in 1890 to serve aspastor of St. Peter's Church inRosendale, New York.[1] However, after one year, he resigned his post to go toYonkers, New York to assist in establishing a new parish. According to theNew York Times, Cusack played a prominent role in combating asmallpox epidemic in Yonkers.[2]
In 1897, Cusack organized the missionary band for the archdiocese, a group of priests tasked withevangelizing non-Catholics. During the 1898Spanish–American War, Cusack served as a military chaplain atCamp George H. Thomas, a US Army training camp nearChickamauga, Georgia.[2][1]
On March 11, 1904, Cusack was appointedauxiliary bishop of New York andtitular bishop ofThemiscyra byPope Pius X.[4] He received hisepiscopalconsecration on April 25, 1904, from ArchbishopJohn Murphy Farley, with BishopsCharles H. Colton andJames Augustine McFaul serving asco-consecrators, inSt. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan.[4]In addition to his episcopal duties, he served as pastor of St. Stephen's Church from 1904 to 1915.[1]
Cusack was named the fifth bishop of Albany byPope Benedict XV on July 5, 1915.[4] During his brief tenure, Cusack supported the American war effort duringWorld War I by helping provided military chaplains. He also renovated theCathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany, installing electric lighting and marble flooring.[5]
Cusack established a chapter ofCatholic Charities in the diocese. Before his illness, Cusack took walks around Albany, talking with people that he met.[5]
By June 1917, Cusack was in poor health, but continued to work as bishop. He died in Albany on July 12, 1918, from cancer at age 56.[2]
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| Preceded by | Bishop of Albany 1915–1918 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by – | Auxiliary Bishop of New York 1904–1915 | Succeeded by – |
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