FR. THOMAS J. FITZGERALD, ARCHDIOCESAN PRIEST, DIES
Ordained May 2, 1942

Chicago, IL (April 10, 2007)—Fr. Thomas J. Fitzgerald, pastor emeritus of Chicago’s St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, died at age 89 of heart failure on Holy Saturday, April 7, at St. Benedict Home in Niles.

A Chicago native, Fr. Fitzgerald was born on May 2, 1917 and was baptized at St. Columbanus Parish on Chicago’s south side. He graduated from St. Columbanus Elementary School in June 1931, Quigley (North) Preparatory Seminary in June 1939 and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in June 1942. Fr. Fitzgerald also enrolled in postgraduate studies at Mundelein Seminary between 1942 and 1944 and again from 1950 to 1952. He also served as a pro-synodal judge on the Archdiocese’s Metropolitan Tribunal from 1950 to 1955.

Fr. Fitzgerald was ordained a priest on May 2, 1942, and the next day, celebrated his first solemn Mass at St. Columbanus. On June 16, 1944, he was assigned as assistant pastor of Chicago’s St. Therese of the Infant Jesus (Little Flower) Parish, where he remained until January 1968. Fr. Fitzgerald then became pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, a position he held until his retirement on December 31, 1987. He continued to live at St. Thomas the Apostle as a senior priest until moving to St. Benedict Home in 2001.

Visitation for Fr. Fitzgerald will be from 3 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 11, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 5472 S. Kimbark Ave. At 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 12, Most Rev. Timothy J. Lyne, Retired Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, will be the main celebrant at a funeral Mass at St. Thomas the Apostle Church for Fr. Fitzgerald. Interment will be at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Alsip.

Two brothers, Morgan J. of Mission, TX, and James D. of Los Angeles, along with numerous nieces and nephews survive Fr. Fitzgerald.