July 14, 2020

OBITUARY: Father Thomas Reilly, M.S., former Holyoke pastor

REGIONAL

HARTFORD, Conn. — Father Thomas A. Reilly, 76, a Missionary of Our Lady of La Salette, died July 12 at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford.   

He was born Nov. 4, 1943 in Springfield, Mass., son of the late William and Mildred (Dudley) Reilly.  He attended grammar school in Thompsonville, Conn., and high school at the La Salette Seminary in Hartford prior to entering the La Salette Seminary in Bloomfield, Conn., on July 1, 1963.   

Father Reilly made his first profession of vows on July 2, 1964, and was ordained on May 27, 1972 at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Hartford.

His studies in the seminary earned him a master of arts degree in philosophy, and ministry degrees in moral theology and applied ministries.

Following his ordination, he served as associate director of students and then director of students at the La Salette Seminary in Ipswich, Mass. In 1976, he was appointed associate pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Fitchburg, Mass., serving until 1979 when he was appointed pastor of St. Matthew Parish in Fairburn, Ga. In 1981, he became coordinator of the La Salette community in Ipswich. 

The Province of Seven Dolors elected him to serve the province in various administrative capacities. In 1982, he was elected provincial assistant; in 1985 he was elected provincial vicar.  He was elected provincial superior for three terms.

Father Reilly later served as pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Holyoke from 1998 to 2003. In 2003, he was appointed pastor of St. Ann Parish in Marietta, Ga. While ministering there, he established a columbarium at St. Ann’s, which was dedicated by Archbishop Wilton Gregory in 2017.

Following his ministry at St. Ann’s, he retired to Mary Queen Parish in Friendswood, Texas.  Due to failing health, he moved to the Hartford House in Connecticut in 2019 where he resided until his death.

He also was very active in the Catholic Heart Workcamp, a ministry that helps underprivileged and marginalized children to live their Catholic faith. 

In addition to his La Salette community, Father Reilly is survived by his brothers, Patrick of Connecticut and Kevin and his wife, Louise, of North Carolina; a sister, Mary Maguire of Connecticut; nieces Patricia Reilly and Kelly Wright, both of Connecticut; grandnephews Dylan Reilly, Kyle Reilly, and Liam Wright of Connecticut; his brother-in-law, William Higgins; and many more relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his sister, Ellen Higgins. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, July 17. at 11:00 am in St. Patrick Church, 64 Pearl Street Enfield, Connn. Visiting hours will be held at St. Patrick Church one hour prior to Mass, from 10 a.m. to 11a.m.
A second Memorial Mass will be held at St. Ann Church in Marietta, Ga., next week.

Memorial contributions may be made to Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette Retirement Fund, 915 Maple Avenue, Hartford, CT 06114-2330.