Thomas Joseph Connolly

Thomas Joseph Connolly (July 18, 1922 – April 24, 2015)[1] was an American prelate of the Catholic Church.

[3] He received his episcopal ordination on June 30, 1971, from Archbishop Robert Dwyer, with Bishops Gorman and Michael Green serving as co-consecrators.

[2] He also scheduled regular Masses in Spanish, established a program to assist undocumented immigrants to apply for citizenship, and ordained the first class of permanent deacons for the diocese.

[2] Upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Connolly submitted his letter of resignation to Pope John Paul II in July 1997.

His resignation was accepted on November 19, 1999, and Reverend Robert F. Vasa of the Diocese of Lincoln was named as his successor.