Thomas William Drumm


Thomas William Drumm
Bishop of Des Moines
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
SeeDes Moines
In officeMarch 28, 1919 – October 24, 1933
PredecessorAustin Dowling
SuccessorGerald Thomas Bergan
Orders
OrdinationDecember 21, 1901
by Paul Bruchési
ConsecrationMay 21, 1919
by John Joseph Keane
Personal details
Born(1871-07-12)July 12, 1871
DiedOctober 24, 1933(1933-10-24) (aged 62)
EducationSt. Joseph's College
Grand Seminary of Montreal
Catholic University of America
MottoStet et pascat
(Stand and feed)

Thomas William Drumm (July 12, 1871 – October 24, 1933) was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of Des Moines in Iowa from 1919 until his death in 1933.

Biography

Early life

Thomas Drumm was born on July 12, 1871, in Fore, County Westmeath in Ireland to Thomas and Mary (née Cullen) Drumm.[1] He came to the United States in 1888, and began his studies at St. Joseph's College in Dubuque, Iowa.[1] Drumm then entered the Grand Seminary of Montreal in Montreal, Quebec.

Priesthood

Drumm was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Dubuque in Montreal by Archbishop Paul Bruchési on December 21, 1901.[2] He then furthered his studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.[1] After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned Drumm to pastoral positions in several missions. He was named pastor of St. Patrick's Parish in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1915.[1]

Bishop of Des Moines

On March 28, 1919, Drumm was appointed the second bishop of Des Moines by Pope Benedict XV. He received his episcopal consecration at the Cathedral of Saint Raphael in Dubuque, Iowa, on May 21, 1919, from Archbishop John Joseph Keane, with Bishops James J. Davis and Edmond Heelan serving as co-consecrators.[2] In 1924 he became the first Catholic bishop to preach regularly on the radio, offering monthly broadcasts on WHO-AM in Des Moines.

Drumm died in Des Moines on October 24, 1933 at age 62.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d O'Donnell, John Hugh (1922). "The Catholic Hierarchy of the United States, 1790-1922". The Catholic University of America Studies in American Church History. IV. Washington, D.C. hdl:2027/uc2.ark:/13960/t5r786c77.
  2. ^ a b c "Bishop Thomas William Drumm [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2025-11-04.