See Bishop of Wilmington Name Thomas Mardaga Consecration January 25, 1967 Ordination May 14, 1940 | Term ended May 28, 1984 Predecessor Michael William Hyle Installed April 6, 1968 Successor Robert Edward Mulvee | |
Other posts Titular Bishop of Mutugenna(1967-1968) Born May 14, 1913
Baltimore, Maryland ( 1913-05-14 ) Died May 28, 1984, Wilmington, Delaware, United States Education St. Charles College, Maryland | ||
Denomination Roman Catholic Church | ||
Thomas Joseph Mardaga (May 14, 1913 – May 28, 1984) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Wilmington from 1968 until his death in 1984.
Biography
Thomas Mardaga was born in Baltimore, Maryland, to Thomas and Agnes (née Ryan) Mardaga. He received his early education at the parochial school of St. Ann Church in his native city. He attended St. Charles College in Catonsville before studying for the priesthood at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. He was ordained a priest by Archbishop Michael J. Curley on May 14, 1940.
Mardaga then served as a curate at St. Paul Church in Baltimore until being transferred to the Basilica of the Assumption, where he later became rector. In addition to his pastoral work, he served as archdiocesan director of the Catholic Youth Organization and the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, executive secretary of the Catholic Charities Fund, and a member of the archdiocesan board of consultors. He was named a domestic prelate in 1963.
On December 9, 1966, Mardaga was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and titular bishop of Mutugenna by Pope Paul VI. He received his episcopal consecration on January 25, 1967 from Cardinal Lawrence Shehan, with Bishops John Joyce Russell and Thomas Austin Murphy serving as co-consecrators, at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. As an auxiliary bishop, he continued to serve as rector of the Basilica of the Assumption.
Following the death of Bishop Michael William Hyle, Mardaga was named the sixth Bishop of Wilmington, Delaware, on March 9, 1968. His installation took place at St. Elizabeth Church in Wilmington on April 6 of that year. During his 16-year tenure, he continued the implementation of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, establishing a council for the laity and participating in ecumenical work. He also reorganized the diocesan curia and created a ministry for migrant workers.
Mardaga died from cancer at St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington.