His Excellency, The Most Reverend Thomas Joseph Mardaga
Bishop of Wilmington titular bishop of Mutugenna
See	Bishop of Wilmington
Installed	April 6, 1968
Term ended	May 28, 1984
Predecessor	Michael Hyle
Successor	Robert Mulvee
Other post(s)	Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore 1966 to 1968 Titular Bishop of Mutugenna (1967–1968)
Orders
Ordination	May 14, 1940 by Michael Joseph Curley
Consecration	January 25, 1967 by Lawrence Shehan
Personal details
Born	(1913-05-14)May 14, 1913 Baltimore, Maryland, US
Died	May 28, 1984(1984-05-28) (aged 71) Wilmington, Delaware, US
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
Education	St. Charles College St. Mary's Seminary
Coat of arms

Thomas Joseph Mardaga (May 14, 1913 – May 28, 1984) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Wilmington in Delaware from 1968 until his death in 1984. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Baltimore in Maryland from 1966 to 1968.

Biography

Early life

Thomas Mardaga was born on May 14, 1913, in Baltimore, Maryland, to Thomas and Agnes (née Ryan) Mardaga.^[1] He received his early education at the parochial school of St. Ann Parish in Baltimore.^[1] He attended St. Charles College in Catonsville, Maryland before studying for the priesthood at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore.^[2]

Mardaga was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Baltimore by Archbishop Michael J. Curley on May 14, 1940.^[3] Mardaga then served as a curate at St. Paul Parish in Baltimore until being transferred to the Basilica of the Assumption, where he later became rector.^[2] In addition to his pastoral work, he served as archdiocesan director of the Catholic Youth Organization and the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, executive secretary of the Catholic Charities Fund, and a member of the archdiocesan board of consultors.^[2] Mardaga was named a domestic prelate by the Vatican in 1963.^[1]

Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore

On December 9, 1966, Mardaga was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and titular bishop of Mutugenna by Pope Paul VI.^[3] He received his episcopal consecration on January 25, 1967, from Cardinal Lawrence Shehan, with Bishops John Russell and Thomas Murphy serving as co-consecrators, at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore.^[3] As an auxiliary bishop, he continued to serve as rector of the Basilica of the Assumption.^[1]

Bishop of Wilmington

Following the death of Bishop Michael Hyle, Mardaga was named the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Wilmington on March 9, 1968.^[3] His installation took place at St. Elizabeth Church in Wilmington, Delaware on April 6, 1968.^[1] During his 16-year tenure, Mardaga continued the implementation of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, establishing a council for the laity and participating in ecumenical work.^[4] He also reorganized the diocesan curia and created a ministry for migrant workers.^[4]

Thomas Mardaga died on May 28, 1984, at age 71 from cancer at St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington.^[2]

Catholic Church titles Preceded byMichael William Hyle Bishop of Wilmington 1968–1984 Succeeded byRobert Edward Mulvee

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Most Rev. Thomas J. Mardaga". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore. Archived from the original on 2010-06-28.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Schaffer, Michael D. (1984-05-29). "BISHOP THOMAS MARDAGA, 71". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Bishop Thomas Joseph Mardaga". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
^ ^a ^b "A Brief History of the Diocese of Wilmington". Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington.

v t e Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington
Bishops	Thomas Albert Andrew Becker Alfred Allen Paul Curtis John James Joseph Monaghan Edmond John Fitzmaurice Michael William Hyle Thomas Mardaga Robert Edward Mulvee Michael Angelo Saltarelli William Francis Malooly William Edward Koenig
Coadjutor bishop	Hubert James Cartwright
Churches	List List of churches in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington Cathedral Cathedral of St. Peter Parishes St. Joseph's Church, Greenville, DE St. John the Baptist Church, Newark, DE St. Joseph's Church, Middletown, DE St. Peter's Church, Queenstown, MD St. Francis Xavier Church, Warwick, MD Resurrection Church, Wilmington, DE Immaculate Conception Parish, Elkton, MD St. Anthony's Church, Wilmington, DE St. Catherine of Siena Church, Wilmington, DE St. Hedwig's Church, Wilmington, DE St. Joseph's Church, Wilmington, DE St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church, Wilmington, DE St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Wilmington, DE
Education	High schools Archmere Academy, Claymont, DE Padua Academy, Wilmington, DE Saints Peter and Paul High School, Easton, MD St. Elizabeth High School, Wilmington, DE St. Mark's High School, Wilmington, DE St. Thomas More Preparatory, Magnolia, DE Salesianum School, Wilmington, DE Ursuline Academy, Wilmington, DE Primary schools Mount Aviat Academy, Childs, MD St. Edmond's Academy, Wilmington, DE Immaculate Conception School, Elkton, MD Former college St. Mary's College
Priests	John Barres Benjamin Joseph Keiley
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