June 18, 2009

Priest, Prolific Author, Community Activist, and above all, a Man for Others.

It is with profound sorrow that South Boston Online announces the passing of Msgr. Thomas F. McDonnell, known to everyone as “Father Tom”.  Father Tom spent 25 years here in South Boston as Pastor of St. Augustine Church before retiring.  He was residing at the St. Mary Church Rectory in Dedham at the time of his death.

We do not have complete details concerning the arrangements for his funeral and interment, but here is what we know.  Father Tom’s arrangements will be handled by the Al Thomas Funeral Home in East Milton.  His funeral will be from St. Monica/St. Augustine Church here in South Boston at 10 a.m. this Saturday, June 20.  There’ll be a viewing on Friday evening, June 19, from 4 to 8 p.m. in St. Monica/St. Augustine Church.  We have heard that visiting hours at the Al Thomas Funeral Home will take place on Thursday, June 18.  

Father Tom’s accomplishments were legendary.  In addition to his priestly duties, he inaugurated the St. Augustine Food Pantry, an organization that still flourishes.  For many years, he spearheaded the judging of student applications for Mt. Washington Bank scholarships.  He co-founded with Sr. Peggy Youngclaus the Simon of Cyrene Society, which assists children with severe disabilities and their families.  And these achievements just scratch the surface of all that Father Tom took on.  We will likely never know everything he did.

Perhaps Father Tom will be best remembered for his writings, which were published in many local newspapers.  True to form and right to the end, he wrote two columns in May for the Dorchester Reporter – “Why May as the Month of Mary” and “He Ascended into Heaven”.  Knowing him, we expect he left more columns to come.

Godspeed and farewell, Father Tom.  

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