Thomas Mooney (chaplain)
{{Short description|Canadian chaplain (1906–1944)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Thomas Edmund Mooney
| image = Thomas-edmund-mooney.jpg
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1906|01|21}}
| birth_place = Westport, Ontario, Canada
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1944|09|14|1906|01|21}}
| death_place = Belgium
| occupation = Director of Music, Kingston Cathedral; Honorary captain (The Reverend), Chaplain
| parents = Michael Edmund Mooney (father)
Anna Cecelia Mooney (mother)
}}
Thomas Edmund Mooney (January 21, 1906 – September 14, 1944){{Cite web|url=https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV94-18ML|title=Ontario Births, 1869 - 1911|last=|first=|date=|website=Family Search|publisher=Archives of Ontario, Toronto|access-date=}} was a Canadian chaplain who served in World War II. Mooney was the first Canadian Catholic Chaplain reported killed in action during World War II.{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1601&dat=19450926&id=m_E6AAAAIBAJ&pg=2165,15952125&hl=en|title=Toronto Daily Star - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com|access-date=October 12, 2016}}{{Cite book|title=A White Knight of God|last=Casey|first=Daniel Aloysius|publisher=The Canadian Register Press|year=1945|isbn=|location=Kingston, Ontario|pages=6–35|via=}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/At+the+going+down+of+the+sun:+from+the+Scheldt+to+the+Rhine.-a0207391882|title=At the going down of the sun: from the Scheldt to the Rhine. - Free Online Library|website=www.thefreelibrary.com|access-date=October 13, 2016}} Mooney served as Director of Music at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral in Islington, Ontario.{{Cite web|url=http://www.theygavetheirtoday.com/canadian-chaplains.html|title=Canadian Chaplains|website=They Gave Their Today|access-date=October 12, 2016}}{{Cite web|url=https://stmikes.utoronto.ca/memorial-to-the-fallen/ww2/ww2-fallen/thomas-edmund-mooney/|title=Thomas Edmund Mooney {{!}} University of St. Michael's College|website=stmikes.utoronto.ca|access-date=October 12, 2016}}
History
Mooney was born in Westport, Ontario on January 21, 1906, to parents Michael Edmund and Anna Cecelia Mooney.{{Cite web|url=http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/2083370|title=Canadian Virtual War Memorial|last=|first=|date=|website=Veterans Affairs Canada|publisher=Government of Canada|access-date=October 13, 2016}} Mooney's father, grandfather and great-grandfather were lockmasters at the Rideau Canal. Mooney's Bay Park was named after the Mooney family of lockmasters.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rideau-info.com/canal/history/locks/h35-narrows.html|title=Rideau Canal - A History of the Rideau Lockstations: Narrows Lockstation|website=www.rideau-info.com|access-date=October 13, 2016}}{{Cite book|title=Invisible Army: Hard Times, Heartbreak & Heritage|last=Bebee|first=Edward|publisher=E. Bebee & The Friends of the Rideau|year=2010|isbn=|location=Ontario|pages=|via=}}
After graduating from high school, Mooney entered St. Michael's College, University of Toronto. He was a member of the Oratorical Club, the Quindecim Club, and the Literary Society. He was also a member of the Intercollegiate Boxing, Wrestling, and Fencing Team, winning letters for wrestling in the 158-pound class.
File:Father-tom-mooney-fisherman.jpg
While at St. Michael's he decided to enter the priesthood. He attended St. Augustine's Seminary and was ordained in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Kingston on May 21, 1932. He served as Curate and Director of the Choir until January 10, 1942, when he became a Canadian Chaplain.
On September 14, 1944, the chaplain was killed in action at Moerkerke.{{Cite book|title=Soldier Boys|last=McCauley|first=G.F.|publisher=General Store Pub. House|year=2003|isbn=1894263782|location=Burnstown, Ontario|pages=}}{{Cite journal|last=Lowrey|first=Bob|title=The Basilian Annals|journal=The Basilian Annalsa|volume=1}}{{quote|"...padre Thomas Mooney, from Hamilton, Ontario, was killed by shellfire while ministering to wounded a few weeks after D-Day: he was buried in the Canadian cemetery at Eccloo, Belgium. As a tribute, the Protestant chaplains of his formation served as pallbearers."}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- The Observer, "Killed in Action" (http://obs.stparchive.com/Archive/OBS/OBS10291944p01.php)
- {{Cite book|title=A White Knight of God|last=Casey|first=Daniel Aloysius|publisher=The Canadian Register|year=1945|isbn=|location=Kingston, Ontario|pages=5–35|via=}}
- {{Cite web|url=http://www.jenniferclark.ca/?p=5630|title=Captain The Reverend Thomas Edmund Mooney – Jennifer Clark|website=www.jenniferclark.ca|access-date=October 13, 2016}}
- http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMB8DT_Newboro_War_Memorial_Newboro_Ontario
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mooney, Thomas Edmund}}
Category:Roman Catholic clergy in Canada
Category:World War II chaplains
Category:Canadian Army personnel of World War II
Category:Canadian military personnel killed in World War II
Category:Canadian military chaplains