Pope Benedict XVI Appoints Auxiliary Bishop to Diocese of San Jose

Office of Media Relations
Diocese of San Jose
Contact: Roberta Ward, Media Relations Director
ward@dsj.org
408-983-0267   

March 16, 2011

Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Father Thomas A. Daly, a priest of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, to be Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of San Jose.

The appointment was made public March 16 by Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States.
This marks the first time an auxiliary bishop has been appointed to the diocese which is celebrating its 30th anniversary of inauguration this month.

Bishop-elect Daly, one of seven children of Marian and the late Donald Daly, is currently the Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese and also serves as President of Marin Catholic High School.

Born April 30, 1960 in San Francisco, he was educated in San Francisco at Our Lady of the Visitacion elementary school, Sacred Heart High School, and the University of San Francisco where he earned a baccalaureate degree in 1982. He attended St. Patrick Seminary in Menlo Park where he earned a Masters of Divinity degree in 1987 and was ordained to the priesthood on May 9 that year. He studied at Boston College where he earned a Masters Degree in Education in 1996.

His pastoral assignments have included serving as a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Loretto Parish, Novato (1987-1992), and as pastor at St. Cecilia Church, Lagunitas and St. Mary in Nicasio (1995-1999), both in Marin County. He was also chaplain to St. Vincent School for Boys in San Rafael. From 1995 to 2003 he also served as a part-time chaplain for the San Francisco Police Department. He was a teacher and Campus Minister at Marin Catholic High School from 1992 until 2003 when he was named the school’s President. He has been Director of Vocations since 2002.

Bishop Patrick J. McGrath of San Jose said, March 16, “It was with great joy that I received the news that Pope Benedict has appointed Father Daly to be the first Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of San Jose.
“Coming so close to our celebration (March 19) of the 30th anniversary of our diocese, this appointment recognizes the continual growth of our Local Church in the decades since 1981,” he said.
“I congratulate Bishop-elect Daly on his appointment and I look forward to collaborating with him in my ministry as bishop of the diocese,” Bishop McGrath said. “I know that the new bishop will be eager to come to know the people of the parishes, schools and other institutions of the diocese and that he will be impressed with the work of the clergy, Religious and laity as I am,” Bishop McGrath said.  “I ask the people of this diocese and all our brothers and sisters in the Roman Catholic Church to join us in praying for him and for the gifts and graces he will need to carry out his apostolic office,” Bishop McGrath added. Bishop-elect Daly’s episcopal ordination will take place Wed., May 25 in St. Joseph Cathedral Basilica, San Jose.

An auxiliary bishop is an assistant to the bishop of the diocese to which he is assigned and who, generally, defines the role of the auxiliary. The new bishop will be appointed as a Vicar General of the Diocese.
Auxiliary bishops are assigned “titular sees” which are historical dioceses that are no longer in existence. Bishop-elect Daly will be assigned the titular see (diocese) of Tabalta (in Tunisia). All bishops must have an actual or titular diocese.

Bishop-elect Daly said, March 16, “I am humbled and honored by Pope Benedict’s appointment of me as Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of San Jose. “I look forward to working with Bishop McGrath, whom I have known since my days at the seminary and when he was in residence in my home parish of St. Brendan’s in San Francisco.

“I am especially grateful to Archbishops Quinn, Levada and Niederauer for their support and guidance during my years at the Archdiocese. Archbishop Niederauer and I worked closely in Vocations and I have learned so much from him as he shepherds the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

 “I feel truly blessed to have spent my almost 25 years of priestly ministry serving the families and young people of Marin, especially at Marin Catholic High School and St. Vincent School for Boys in San Rafael.

“I ask for your prayers as I come to serve the people of the Diocese of San Jose,” the bishop-elect said.