Rev. Thomas J. McCarty

MCCARTY

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/12/2015 at 09:18:39

Northwestern Iowa
Its History and Traditions
1804 – 1926

Rev. Thomas J. McCarty, at present rector of the Cathedral of The Epiphany, Sioux City, is a member of one of the pioneer families of the city, being brought here in infancy by his parents when they came in 1867 by stage, before the building of the first railroad into this section. He attended the city schools, graduating from the high school, and for the next few years assisted in his father’s business, and for a time worked as draftsman in the office of the city engineer. Feeling a call to the work of the Catholic priesthood, he went in preparation for the first to Creighton College, Omaha, and later to St. Joseph’s now Columbia College, Dubuque, and for his theological course to St. Francis’ Seminary of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Hennessy, of Dubuque, April 5, 1892, and celebrated his first mass at St. Mary’s, Sioux City, now the Cathedral, on the following Sunday.

His first appointment was a temporary one to Marshalltown, Iowa, to take the place of the pastor; Rev. M.C. Lenehan (now bishop of Great Falls, Montana) during the latter’s absence in Europe. From here he was sent to his home parish, St. Mary’s, in temporary charge during the absence of the pastor, Very Rev. T. Treacy. In November, 1892, he was appointed pastor of Eagle Center, Black Hawk County, where he remained a year, being then advanced to the pastorate of Holy Cross, Dubuque County, a strong community of Catholic settlers and one of the oldest parishes of the diocese. Here he labored for ten years, making extensive improvements in the parish equipment and striving for its spiritual up building. When the diocese of Dubuque, comprising the north half of Iowa, was divided and its western portion formed into the diocese of Sioux City. Father McCarty came to the new diocese, and was appointed by Bishop Garrigan to the post of chancellor and secretary in November, 1903. He performed the duties of this office in 1912, when owing to the effect of the confining work of the chancery on his health; he expressed a desire to return to parish work, and was appointed by Bishop Garrigan, in May of that year, pastor of St. Joseph’s church at Carroll, Iowa, and dean of the Carroll Deanery, comprising Carroll, Green and Boone counties. The work and environment of this position proved most congenial, and here he would have been content to remain.

Right Reverend Edmond Heelan, while auxiliary bishop in the last years of Bishop Garrigan was rector of the Cathedral, and on becoming bishop of the diocese after Bishop Garrigan’s death, appointed Father McCarty to the rectorship of the Cathedral. So he is for a third time placed in the parish of his early home and among friends and neighbors, many of whom have known him since boyhood. While laboring for the spiritual interest of his flock and for the improvement of the Cathedral property, he continues his interest and pride in the institutions and growth of Sioux City, and bears a willing part in any move for the welfare of the whole community.