Shahan, Thomas J. (Thomas Joseph), 1857-1932

Thomas Joseph Shahan, fourth rector of the Catholic University of America, was born on September 11, 1857, the son of Maurice and Mary Anne (Carmody), in Manchester, New Hampshire. He received his education in the Millbury, Massachusetts public schools, followed by studies at the Sulpician College, Montreal (1872-1878) and the North American College, in Rome (1878-82). He was ordained in 1882. Before he joined the Catholic University faculty in 1891 as a teacher of church law and patrology, he served as curate of St. John's (New Haven, Connecticut) and as Bishop Lawrence McMahon's secretary and the chancellor of the Hartford diocese. From 1889-1891, Shahan studied at the University of Berlin and at the Sorbonne and Institut Catholique (Paris), in preparation for his new teaching assignment. From 1909 until 1928 Shahan served as rector of the Catholic University of America. During this time, the faculty was expanded, student enrollment increased, and several buildings were raised or begun. The most significant of these buildings was the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, dedicated to the Mother of God, for whom Shahan was noted to have a special personal devotion. Shahan worked not only as an administrator but also as a scholar, writing and publishing numerous essays and sermons, many of which were published. His interests were not confined to academics or religion per se, but also included the cause of Irish nationalism, a heartfelt concern that he supported by writing against the alleged atrocities of the British and by supporting Ireland's independence. Shahan was instrumental in the creation of the Catholic Sisters College and of the National Catholic War Council (and its successor, the National Catholic Welfare Conference); he was a founder of the Catholic Education Association (later the National Catholic Educational Association) as well as its president for a time concurrent with his rectorship at the Catholic University. He was also a founder and the president of the National Conference of Catholic Charities (now Catholic Charities U.S.A.). He died on March 9, 1932, and was buried in the crypt of the National Shrine.