Thomas William Drumm Explained

Type:Bishop
Honorific-Prefix:Most Reverend
Thomas W. Drumm, DD
Bishop of Des Moines
Church:Roman Catholic Church
See:Des Moines
Term:March 28, 1919 – October 24, 1933
Successor:Gerald Thomas Bergan
Ordination:December 21, 1901
Consecration:May 21, 1919
Birth Date:12 July 1871
Birth Place:Fore, County Westmeath, Ireland
Death Place:Des Moines, Iowa

Thomas William Drumm (July 12, 1871 – October 24, 1933) was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Des Moines from 1919 until his death in 1933.

Biography

Thomas Drumm was born in Fore, County Westmeath, to Thomas and Mary (née Cullen) Drumm.[1] He came to the United States in 1888, and began his studies at St. Joseph's College in Dubuque, Iowa.[1] He completed his theological studies at the Grand Seminary of Montreal in Quebec, Canada, where he was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Paul Bruchési on December 21, 1901.[2] He then furthered his studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.[1] He labored in the diocesan missions of Dubuque, and became pastor of St. Patrick's Church in Cedar Rapids in 1915.[1]

On March 28, 1919, Drumm was appointed the second Bishop of Des Moines by Pope Benedict XV.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on the following May 21 from Archbishop John Joseph Keane, with Bishops James J. Davis and Edmond Heelan serving as co-consecrators.[2] In 1924 he became the first Catholic bishop to preach regularly on the radio, offering monthly broadcasts on WHO. He remained as bishop until his death at age 62.

Notes and References

  1. O'Donnell. John Hugh. The Catholic Hierarchy of the United States, 1790-1922. The Catholic University of America Studies in American Church History. IV. Washington, D.C.. 1922. 2027/uc2.ark:/13960/t5r786c77. free.
  2. News: Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Bishop Thomas William Drumm.