Who’s It Named For? Archbishop Thomas E. Molloy (1884-1956)

Last updated on: January 22, 2019 at 4:24 am by Pat McNamara

Who’s It Named For? Archbishop Thomas E. Molloy (1884-1956) 2019-01-22T04:24:44-07:00 Pat McNamara

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

He has a college, a high school, and a retreat house named named for him: Molloy College in Rockville Centre, Archbishop Molloy High School in the Briarwood section of Queens, and Bishop Molloy Retreat House in nearby Jamaica Estates.

Founded in 1955, the college began as a Catholic women’s institution under the Sisters of St.Dominic. Today, it is a coeducational school with graduate programs and residence halls. The high school, under the aegis of the Marist Brothers, was founded in 1957 as an outgrowth of St. Ann’s Academy in Manhattan (hence students are known as “Stanners”). One of the city’s finest schools, today it is coeducational. The retreat house, begun in 1949 by the Passionist Fathers, is the last standing Catholic retreat house in New York City.

But who was the man they were all named for?

Thomas Edmund Molloy was born in Nashua, New Hampshire, but his Irish-born parents had lived in Brooklyn for a while, and they kept up the connection. After attending St. Francis College in Brooklyn (where he played baseball), he decided to stay in Brooklyn and study for the priesthood. A brilliant student, he was sent to Rome’s prestigious North American College. In 1908, at age 24, he was ordained a priest. A year later, he earned a doctorate in theology before returning to Brooklyn.

A capable administrator as well as a scholar, Father Molloy rose up the ranks in diocesan leadership. In 1916, he was named first President of St. Joseph’s College in Brooklyn, the first Catholic women’s college on Long Island. In 1920, at age 36, he was appointed an Auxiliary Bishop for Bishop Charles E. McDonnell. In 1922, after McDonnell’s death, he became ordinary of the Brooklyn Diocese. He remained there until his death in 1956.

During Molloy’s tenure, Brooklyn became the largest diocese qua diocese in the United States (only the Chicago Archdiocese had more Catholics). The Molloy years saw a tremendous expansion of the diocese in terms of schools, hospitals, and churches. Between 1922 and 1956, Molloy founded 102 parishes, the majority of them in Queens, much of which was still farmland until after World War II.

A shrewd businessman and a successful leader, Bishop Molloy was also a very private man. He lived by himself in one of Brooklyn’s famed Pratt mansions on Clinton Avenue, which he had bought during the Depression. The story among older generations of Brooklyn clergy is that Molloy, when called there to make a sick call, was ushered in through the back door. One day, so it’s said, he promised himself he’d go in through the front door.

Around the time of the diocesan centennial in 1953, rumors abounded that Brooklyn would be named an archdiocese. It never happened, but in 1951 Bishop Molloy was named an honorary Archbishop. Throughout his episcopal career, many assumed that Molloy would be named to head an archdiocese. After Boston’s Cardinal William H. O’Connell died in 1944, it was whispered that Molloy would succeed him. But Molloy told O’Connell’s successor, Archbishop Richard Cushing, “When I die, I want to go directly from Brooklyn to heaven.” (At his request, he was buried with a copy of The Tablet, Brooklyn’s diocesan newspaper.)

(*The drawing of Bishop Molloy is by Pat McNamara.)

Bishops

New York Catholics

Previous Post

January 21, 2019

Catholics in the Military: Lieutenant General Harold G. Moore (1922-2017)

Next Post

January 24, 2019 St. Joseph‘s School for the Deaf Celebrates 150 Years in the Bronx

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category African-American Catholics Alabama Catholics American Catholic History American Catholic women American History Anniversaries Anti-Catholicism Arkansas Catholics Benedictines Bishops Blessed John Henry Newman Book Reviews Books Boston College Brooklyn churches Brothers California Catholics Capuchins Cardinals Carlo Carretto Carmelites Catholic authors Catholic Cemeteries Catholic Historians Catholic History in Less Than 5 Minutes Catholic musicians Catholic Poetry Catholic Press Catholic School Textbook Catholic University of America Catholic Worker Catholics and Music Catholics and Race Catholics in Politics Catholics in the American Revolution Catholics in the Military Catholics in the Movies Catholics in the South Catholics in the West Catholics on Stage Catjolic Women Catolic Poetry Charles de Foucauld Children's Masses Christian Brothers Christmas Church Reform Civil Rights Movement Civil War Colleges and universities Converts D.C. Catholics Deaf Catholics Dominicans. Dorothy Day English Catholics Florida Catholics Fordham University Franciscans French Catholics Georgetown University German Americans Good Shepherd Sisters Hispanic Catholics Historians and Archivists Holy Cross Fathers Holy Name Society Idaho Catholics Illinois Catholics Indian Wars Indiana Catholics Irish Americans Irish Catholicism Italian Americans Italian Catholics Jesuits Josephite Sisters Kentucky Catholics Know-Nothings Laetare Medal Recipients laity Liturgical Movement Maine Catholics Manhattan College Maryland Catholicism Michigan Catholics Middle Ages Minnesota Catholics Missionaries Mississippi Catholics Missouri Catholics Monasteries Montana Catholics Native Americans New England Catholicism New Jersey Catholics New York Catholics North American College Ohio Catholics Oratorians Oregon Catholics Parish Mission Parishes Passionists Pat McNamara's Books Paulists Pennsylvania Catholics Popes Presidents Priests Quotations Religious Orders Rhode Island Catholics Saints Salesians Seminarians Seminaries Sermons Servants of God Siisters of Charity Sisters of Mercy South Carolina Catholics Spanish-American War Sports St. Francis of Assiai St. John Henry Newman Suplicians Tennessee Catholics Texas Catholics The year in review Thomas Merton Throwback Thursday Photograph Trappists Uncategorized University of Notre Dame Video Presentations Vincentians Virginia Catholics Visitation Nuns Washington West Point West Virginia Catholics West Viriginia Catholics Wisconsin Catholicism Women Religious World War II

Select a Month December 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 April 2012 March 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How was Haman punished for his plot?

Select your answer to see how you score.

He was turned into a pillar of salt He was beheaded He was hanged on the gallows he built He was exiled