Scallan, Thomas

Thomas Scallan (1765-1830), Catholic bishop, was born at Churchtown, Ballymore, County Wexford, Ireland in 1765. He was a nephew of Patrick Lambert, bishop of Newfoundland. Scallan died in St. John's on 29 May 1830 and was buried under the High Altar in the Basilica of St. John the Baptist, St. John's.

Scallon studied for the priesthood at St. Isodore's Franciscan College, Rome. In 1787, he was professed as a member of the Franciscan Order in Rome, and in 1791 was ordained a priest in Rome. Like his uncle, he was appointed lecturer in philosophy at St. Anthony's College, Louvain, Belgium, but was unable to travel there because of war and unrest. He remained in Rome and lectured in philosophy at St. Isidore's College. Rev. Scallon returned to Ireland (1797) and was assigned as a member of the convent of Wexford. Shortly afterwards he joined his uncle in setting up the Franciscan Academy in Wexford. On18 October 1803 he was appointed Guardian of the Convent of St. Francis, Wexford.

At the invitation of Bishop Patrick Lambert, Rev. Scallon arrived at the Newfoundland Mission in 1812. He was appointed Bishop of Drago in partibus (4 April 1815) and coadjutor to Lambert, with the right of succession (dated 26 January 1816,). He was consecrated Bishop in the Friary Parochial Church at Wexford on 1 May 1816 by Archbishop Troy of Dublin, assisted by Bishop Patrick Ryan of Ferns and Kieran Marum of Ossory. The consecration had been delayed for over a year due to confusion in issuing the papal bulls, so the documents had to be re-issued. Scallan arrived in Newfoundland in the summer of 1816 and succeeded Bishop Lambert as Vicar Apostolic of Newfoundland on 23 September 1816.

Despite the lack of priests and the threat of a severe recession, Bishop Scallon continued his responsibilities. During his term of office he strove to cultivate good relations between Protestants and Catholics. He was also successful in persuading more priests to offer their services to his Vicariate. He performed the first ordination of a Roman Catholic priest, Nicholas Devereaux, in Newfoundland, and he stationed assistant priests in Harbour Grace and Placentia.

In 1823 Bishop Scallon suffered an incapacitating stroke which necessitated his spending time in warmer climates. In 1827, he travelled to Rome to report on his area of responsibility. When Bishop Scallon was absent from the Vicariate his duties were carried out by his curate, Reverend Michael A. Fleming. It was also at this time that Bishop Scallon caused controversy by allowing Catholic clergymen to attend Protestant funerals. With the continuing deterioration of his health, he had Fleming appointed Coadjutor Bishop with the right of succession on 28 October 1829. Bishop Scallon died the following spring.

Created - May 3, 2013

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