 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
Rt. Rev. Thomas Burke, M. A., was born in 1840, and is the son of the late Dr. Ulric Burke, of Utica, N. Y. He was educated in the school and academy under the charge of the Christian Brothers in Utica, later in the college of St. Michael at Toronto, and entered St. Charles College, Maryland, in 1856. Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop Kain of St. Louis, and the rector of the Catholic University of Washington, Bishop Keane, were students at the latter institution during Bishop Burke's term. Upon graduating from St. Charles, Bishop Burke entered St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, Md., where he was ordained on June 30, 1864, which conferred on him the degrees of Master of Arts and Bachelor of Theology.
He came at once to Albany and remained about two months with Cardinal McCloskey at the Episcopal residence, and was appointed as assistant at St. Johns church, Albany, on September 4, 1864. He remained at St. John's until April 4, 1865, when he was transferred to the assistantpastorate of St. Joseph's church. In 1874 he was appointed pastor of that church, which pastorate he held until appointed bishop of Albany in 1894.
In 1884 Father Burke was appointed theologian by the Most Rev. Apostolic Delegate in the Third Plenary Council at Baltimore, in which he distinguished himself by his eloquence and learning.
The ceremony of his consecration took place on Sunday, July 1, 1894, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, and was a most notable event. His Grace the Most Rev. Archbishop Corrigan of New York was the consecrator, and the assisting consecrating prelates were Rt. Rev. Bishop McQuade of Rochester, and Rt. Rev. Bishop Ludden of Syracuse. The ceremony on the occasion was one of the grandest and most solemn that ever took place in this country.
In 1871, while at St. Joseph's, he was instrumental in having erected for school accommodations for boys the commodious structure situated on the corner of North Pearl and Colonic streets. It was largely through Bishop Burke's effort that the Hawk street viaduct was erected.
Bishop Burke is a scholar, a forcible preacher, and an authority in theological law. He spent the summers of 1871 and 1889 in Rome. In 1890 he was made a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre by authority of Pope Leo. Immediately after his consecration as bishop he was made a Knight of the Grand Cross of Jerusalem. In 1887 he was appointed vicar-general of the diocese of Albany.
As an educator Bishop Burke has a remarkable record, particularly in the establishment of flourishing schools, which include St. Joseph's Male and Female Academy, which has a well-deserved and wide reputation for excellence.
