Remembering Bishop Connolly

Bishop Connolly preaching at the Cathedral in Baker City in 2008

Bishop Emeritus Thomas Connolly died today at Beaverton, Oregon at the age of 93. He served as the fourth Bishop of the Baker Diocese from 1971 to 2000. He was born in Tonopah, Nevada in 1922.

His funeral Mass will be held at the new St Francis of Assisi Parish Church in Bend on Thursday April 30 at 11 AM. A Vigil Service will be held at the same church on Wednesday April 29 at 5 PM. Another Funeral Mass will be held at the Cathedral in Baker City, where he will also be buried at Mount Hope cemetery. May God grant him eternal rest.

Thomas Joseph Connolly was born on July 18, 1922, in Tonopah, Nevada.  He attended St. Joseph Minor Seminary in Mt. View, California and completed his studies for the priesthood at St. Patrick Seminary, Menlo Park.  After ordination on April 8, 1947, Fr. Connolly served briefly as an associate pastor and a high school teacher before his appointment in 1949 as secretary to Bishop Gorman.  Studies in Canon Law at the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., and at the Lateran University in Rome prepared him for a doctorate degree in 1952.  For the next 20 years he served as pastor at the Cathedral in Reno and of churches in Elko and Carson City.  Appointed to succeed Bishop Leipzig, he was ordained the fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Baker on June 20, 1971.

Bishop Connolly's greatest challenge would be the earth-shaking changes in the Church brought on by the Second Vatican Council.  The establishment of a Priests' Council, an annual Presbyteral Assembly, a Sisters' Council and a Diocesan Pastoral Council with lay participation revealed the Bishop's accord with the Council's new view of the Church. 

Compared with Bishop Leipzig's era, the 70s were not to see extensive church construction in the Diocese.  Major building was replaced by renovation projects to bring the churches into compliance with the requisites of the liturgy and other renewal initiated by the Council.  Altars were turned around to make the Eucharist as a meal as well as a sacrifice more recognizable.  Confessionals were remodeled to allow face-to-face Reconciliation.  Interfaith Centers were created in a new spirit of openness to other Christian denominations.  Under his direction and that of Fr. Richard Groves, the DeSales Catholic Adult Education Video Program was produced and used in over 7,000 parishes in the country and internationally.  The program was rated the best Catholic Adult Program for 5 years.

From 1981 to 1993, church construction resumed, initiated by an extensive refurbishing of the Cathedral to bring it into accord with the liturgical directives of Vatican Council II.  Rededication ceremonies took place on April 28, 1981.  Seven new churches and halls were built within the Diocese.  In 1972, the Bishop established the Diocesan Pastoral Council (DPC) as an instrument through which the laity, religious and clergy on its seven committees exercised their ministry against the backdrop of his belief in the need for shared responsibility among all the Diocese.  After strengthening the education of parents requesting the Baptism of their children, mandating a three month preparation for marriage, encouraging evangelization and suggesting that every parish establish a Parish Council, the DPC focused its energies on the development of lay ministry.

Bishop Connolly was deeply devoted to the promotion of family life, was deeply conscious of youth as the future of the Church, welcomed the "Latino" flock by scheduling regular Masses in Spanish, and establishing a program to assist undocumented immigrants to apply for citizenship, and ordained the first married permanent deacon for the Diocese which grew to 13 men in this office by 2003.

Maintaining to the end his vision of shared responsibility coupled with committed leadership and clarity of roles, Bishop Connolly left office in 1999, holding that the best mode of operation for the success of Christ's ministry is love.  He had succeeded in unifying the Diocese during a time of dire challenge and change.  It is estimated that he traveled more than a million miles by car, visiting parishes and missions.

During his tenure, he sought to solve problems through the introduction of innovative programs. Under his guidance, a major renovation of the Cathedral was accomplished, and the Chancery offices were moved to Bend on October 7, 1987.  Bishop Connolly served 29 years as the Bishop of Baker.