Thomas Anthony Welch (November 2, 1884—September 9, 1959) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Duluth from 1926 until his death in 1959.
Thomas Welch was born in Faribault, Minnesota, to Thomas J. and Ellen (née Deasy) Welch.[1] He studied at College of St. Thomas and St. Paul Seminary, both in St. Paul.[1] He was ordained to the priesthood on June 11, 1909.[2]
Welch served as secretary to Archbishop John Ireland (1909-18) and to his successor, Archbishop Austin Dowling (1919-22).[1] He also served as chancellor (1918-1923) and vicar general of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.[1] He became a domestic prelate in February 1924.[1]
On December 17, 1925, Welch was appointed the third Bishop of Duluth by Pope Pius XI.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on February 3, 1926 from Archbishop Dowling, with Bishops James O'Reilly and Joseph Francis Busch serving as co-consecrators.[2] During his 33-year tenure, he remedied the financial crisis in the diocese and also constructed the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary.[3]
Welch died at age 74.
| Preceded by John T. McNicholas |
Bishop of Duluth 1925–1959 |
Succeeded by Francis Joseph Schenk |