Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Reflections on being Irish by Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy

Archbishop Murphy reflects on what it means to be Irish

Thomas Murphy was a son of Ireland. 

His parents, Bartholomew and Ellen (Nellie) Murphy, emigrated from County Kerry, Ireland to America in the early 1900s. 

They infused in young Tom Murphy a deep reverence for his Irish heritage.The archbishop wrote and spoke eloquently of his Irish ancestry throughout his life. 

One such example is the homily he offered at a Mass to celebrate the Feast of St. Patrick on March 17, 1997. The archbishop shared his perspective on what it means to be Irish. His comments are poignant and moving for he uses his ongoing battle with leukemia as a backdrop.

About the Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy Archive

This online repository contains more than 1,100 of the archbishop’s written works. It is a truly unique collection of his homilies, newspaper columns, addresses/speeches, prayers and miscellaneous other documents.

Click here to go to the main page of the archive.