Early life Thomas Galberry was born on May 28, 1833, in
Naas, County Kildare, in Ireland to Thomas and Margaret (née White) Galberry. In 1836, his family moved to the United States, where they settled in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Galberry received his early education at schools in Philadelphia.
Priesthood Galberry was
ordained to the
priesthood for the Augustinian Order by Bishop
John Neumann in Philadelphia on December 20, 1856. After his ordination, Galverry taught at Villanova College until 1858. At that time, the Augustinians assigned him as
pastor of the St. Denis Mission Parish in
Havertown, Pennsylvania. In January 1860, the Augustinians transferred Galberry to St. John's Mission Parish in
Lansingburgh, New York. At his new parish, Galberry tore down the dilapidated church building in 1864, replacing it with the new St. Augustine's Church in 1865. To staff a parish school, Galberry recruited a contingent of religious sisters from the
Sisters of St. Joseph in
Carondelet, Missouri, building a
convent for them. He also founded St. Johns-on-the-Hill Cemetery in Lansingburgh.
President of Villanova After two years in Lawrence, Galberry in 1872 was appointed president of Villanova College. He erected the center and west wings of the college building and upgraded the course of studies. When the Our Lady of Good Counsel Commissariat was converted into the
Province of St. Thomas of Villanova in 1874, Galberry was elected
provincial superior. At this time, the cathedral in Hartford, St. Joseph's was still being planned. Bishop McFarland had been using the chapel at the Sisters of Mercy convent as the
pro-cathedral (temporary cathedral). McFarland designated St. Peter to serve as his
pro-cathedral. He created a diocesan newspaper,
The Connecticut Catholic and opened a new parish school for boys. Galberry took his
ad limina visit to the Vatican in 1876, visiting Catholic landmarks in Italy and France. He laid the
cornerstone for the first Cathedral of St. Joseph in April 1877.
Death and legacy Seeking a chance to rebuild his strength, Galberry left by train for Villanova College on October 10, 1878. Arriving in
New York City later that day, he was suddenly stricken with a gastric
haemorrhage. His companions brought Galway to the Grand Union Hotel in
Midtown Manhattan and summoned a doctor. As Galberry's condition deteriorated, several of his Augustinian colleagues from Villanova rushed to his bedside. ==References==