Thomas Francis Hendricken

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Bishop Thomas Francis Hendricken (May 5, 1827 - June 11, 1886) was born in Kilkenny, Ireland. He studied in St. Kiernan's College and Maynooth where he met Bishop Bernard O'Reilly who ordained him for Hartford in 1853.

In 1872 he was appointed the first Bishop of Providence, Rhode Island, USA. At that time it included all of Rhode Island and today's Diocese of Fall River with some 125,000 parisioners, 43 churches, 9 parish schools and 1 orphan asylum.

He created 13 English- and two French-speaking parishes for growing congregations composed mainly of French-Canadians and Irish. By 1873, the immigration into the diocese slowed and the post-war boom ended with many of his flock unemployed or on reduced wages. As with many of his fellow prelates, he urged a repsonse of patience and social conservatism.

He was placed in a ceremonial tomb in the Providence Cathedral that he conceived, he was re-entombed on December 8, 2006

He also has a high school named after him in RI, Bishop Thomas Francis Hendricken High School www.hendricken.com