Thomas W. Powers
Thomas W. Powers | |
|---|---|
| Education | University of Notre Dame St. John Fisher Seminary Pontifical North American College |
| Occupation(s) | Catholic priest Rector of the Pontifical North American College |
Thomas W. Powers is a Catholic priest of the Diocese of Bridgeport in Connecticut. On March 30, 2022, it was announced that he will succeed Fr. Peter Harman as the twenty-fourth rector of the Pontifical North American College in Rome.[1]
Biography
[edit]Early life
[edit]Thomas W. Powers was raised in Newtown, Connecticut. The son of Thomas and Margaret Mary Powers, he is one of five children.[2] He attended Immaculate High School in Danbury and went on to undergraduate studies at the University of Notre Dame.[2] He graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts in economics and a minor in finance.[2] After college, he worked as a financial consultant with Anderson Consulting in New York.[1]
Priesthood
[edit]In 1992, Powers entered seminary and completed philosophical studies through St. John Fisher Seminary in Trumbull.[2] He went on to study theology at the Pontifical North American College and obtained a bachelor's degree in Sacred Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University and a licentiate at the John Paul II Institute when it was part of the Pontifical Lateran University.[2][3] He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Bridgeport on May 24, 1997.[1][4]
After ordination, Powers served as parochial vicar at St. Theresa Parish in Trumbull from 1998 to 2001.[2] From 2001 to 2005, he served as the spiritual director of St. John Fisher Seminary and chaplain of Trinity Catholic High School in Stamford.[2] In 2005, he was sent to Rome to serve in the Vatican's Congregation for Bishops, during which time he served as an adjunct spiritual director for seminarians at the North American College.[1] He was named a Chaplain of His Holiness with the title "Monsignor" in 2010.[2] After returning to Bridgeport in 2015, he served as vicar general and moderator of the curia of the diocese.[2] Since 2020, he has also served as pastor of St. John Parish in Darien.[1][2]
Rector of the North American College
[edit]Powers' appointment as Rector of the Pontifical North American College was made public on March 30, 2022.[5] His term will begin on July 1, 2022.[1][5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Brockhaus, Hannah (Mar 30, 2022). "Connecticut priest named rector of North American College seminary in Rome". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "IHS Honors Anthony Cirone And Msgr. Thomas Powers At Spring Gala" (Press release). Diocese of Bridgeport. January 21, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ "Msgr. Tom Powers appointed NAC rector". The Pillar. March 30, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ "Msgr. Thomas W. Powers". GigaCatholic.org. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ a b Clyons, Elizabeth (2022-03-30). "Msgr. Powers Appointed Rector of Pontifical North American College". Diocese of Bridgeport. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- Living people
- 20th-century American Roman Catholic priests
- 21st-century American Roman Catholic priests
- Pontifical North American College alumni
- Pontifical North American College rectors
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport
- University of Notre Dame alumni
- Pontifical Gregorian University alumni
- Religious leaders from Connecticut