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Name: Rev. Mr. Thomas R. Gallagher
Age: 26
Hometown: Cross Lanes, W.Va.
Seminary Year: Entering Third Theology at the Pontifical North American College in Rome
 

Interests: Hanging out with family and friends, sports in particular; right now soccer, reading, music and an occasional movie

What drew me to the priesthood? I would say that I have had a strong desire to help people especially through the sacraments. And also there was an integrity that was very attractive to me, that is giving your entire being wholly to God.

Favorite Movies: “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy, “The Quiet Man,” “The Philadelphia Story” and “Stalag 17”
Favorite Books: “The Holy Bible, The World's First Love” by Fulton J. Sheen and “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien
Favorite Quote: “‘Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;
but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.’ He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, ‘Follow me’” (John 21: 18-19).
"The things that we love tell us what we are." –St. Thomas Aquinas
 
 

Seminarian Tom Gallagher Says Parents Fostered Faith, Gave Much Encouragement

By D.F. Kratzer/The Catholic Spirit
WEST VIRGINIA—Tom Gallagher grew up in Cross Lanes and was raised by “two loving parents who helped foster my life of faith within the church and showed much encouragement,” he said. Having learned from his father’s love of Mass and his mother’s lessons “about the spiritual richness that a relationship with Jesus and Mary can offer,” Gallagher is now a seminarian for the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

Growing up near Charleston, Gallagher was a parishioner of the Basilica of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, where Msgr. P. Edward Sadie, V.F., is the rector. Gallagher said he is grateful to Msgr. Sadie, who has been influential in Gallagher’s life, for his spiritual leadership and service as the pastor of his home parish.

“The two priests who have influenced me most have been Father Paul Hudock and Father Eric Hall,” Gallagher said. “They showed me what good, holy, young priests looked like and how priests are regular people.”

Additionally, Gallagher said Father Andrew Fisher, a priest from the Diocese of Arlington, Va., has also played an important role in his life and helped him decide to enter the seminary, by helping he realize that the seminary is “the perfect place to find out if one is called to priesthood” and encouraged him to “let go and surrender to God’s will.”

At the seminary, “it is great to be with other young men on fire with their faith willing to give their whole lives in service to the Gospel and others,” Gallagher said.

As a seminarian, Gallagher has received a lot of support from his friends, family, diocesan staff, Bishop Michael J. Bransfield and people throughout the diocese.

“The faithful of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston,” he continued, “have been very good and generous to me. They have taught me so much about kindness, love and prayer. Through their cards of love, prayer and support, I have come to know so much about their love for me and how (God) showers his blessings upon us. The faithful have been extremely generous in showing their support financially as well, which helps seminarians out a lot.”

He also said that the parishioners of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Parkersburg and St. Monica Parish in Lubeck, where he served his summer assignment in 2009, specifically, have played an important role in his life, “helping form me to be a good, pastoral priest.”

“I don’t know where I would be,” Gallagher said, without the support of so many people throughout the diocese, which shows how important the faithful and their support are to the diocese’s seminarians, who will one day serve in the parishes of the Mountain State.