Thomas Francis Lillis

Thomas Francis Lillis (March 3, 1861—December 29, 1938) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Leavenworth, Kansas (1905-1910) and Bishop of Kansas City, Missouri (1913-1938).

Biography

One of eleven children, Thomas Lillis was born in Lexington, Missouri, to James and Margaret (née Jordan) Lillis.[1] His parents were both Irish immigrants; his mother was born in County Cork while his father was from County Clare and worked as a railroad contractor and later police commissioner of Kansas City under Governor Meredith Marmaduke.[2] He attended public schools in Lafayette County before studying at Niagara University in New York, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree.[1] He completed his theological studies at St. Benedict College in Atchison, Kansas.[2]

At age 24, Lillis was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop John Joseph Hogan on August 15, 1885.[3] He then served as a curate in Shackleford until 1887, when he became pastor of Westport.[4] He was rector of St. Patrick's Church in Kansas City from 1888 to 1904.[1] He also served as vicar general of the Diocese of Kansas City.[5]

On October 24, 1904, Lillis was appointed the second Bishop of Leavenworth, Kansas, by Pope Pius X.[3] He received his episcopal consecration on the following December 27 from Archbishop John J. Glennon, with Bishops John Hogan and John Francis Cunningham serving as co-consecrators.[3] He was installed at the Cathedral of Leavenworth on January 2, 1905.[3] During his tenure, he established several new congregations, churches, and parochial schools.[5]

At the request of the clergy of Missouri, Lillis was named Coadjutor Bishop of Kansas City and Titular Bishop of Cibyra on March 14, 1910.[3] He later succeeded Bishop Hoban as the second Bishop of Kansas City upon the latter's death on February 21, 1913.[3] He delivered the prayer at the second session of the 1928 Republican National Convention.[4] In 1933 he drafted a resolution signed by his fellow Catholic bishops in an effort to end lynchings.[4] In 1935 he was appointed an Assistant at the Pontifical Throne by Pope Pius XI.[4] He served at Kansas City for twenty-five years, until his death at age 77.

References

  1. ^ a b c Stevens, Walter Barlow (1915). Missouri: The Center State, 1821-1915. IV. The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. 
  2. ^ a b Blackmar, Frank W., ed (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc.. Chicago: Standard Publishing Company. 
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Bishop Thomas Francis Lillis". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/blillis.html. 
  4. ^ a b c d "BISHOP T.F. LILLIS OF KANSAS CITY, 77". The New York Times. 1938-12-30. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70D13FB3F5F1B7A93C2AA1789D95F4C8385F9. 
  5. ^ a b "Leavenworth". Catholic Encyclopedia. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09102b.htm. 
Preceded by
Louis Mary Fink		 Bishop of Leavenworth
1905–1910		 Succeeded by
John Chamberlain Ward
Preceded by
John Joseph Hogan		 Bishop of Kansas City
1913–1938		 Succeeded by
Edwin Vincent O'Hara