Brother Thomas McCann, MM

Born: September 1, 1891
Died: March 7, 1922

Thomas McCann was a native of Brooklyn, New York and was born September 1, 1891. One of the pioneers at Hawthorne and later at Maryknoll, Brother Thomas was the first Auxiliary of St. Michael to be received into final membership. Though delicate in health, he was from the beginning one of Maryknoll’s most valuable men.

He worked with Monsignor Freri, National Director of the Propagation of the Faith Society. While engaged in that work he decided to give his life to the advancement of the foreign missions. The founding of Maryknoll offered him the opportunity of fulfilling that ideal.

He was associated with Father Price in the work of making the infant society known in the Eastern states, especially in the Scranton area, for several years.

When the young Society opened a house in San Francisco the experienced and dependable Brother Thomas was assigned there. He made an important contribution to the Society by his friendliness and hard work in the promotional field. He regretted that his frail health prevented him from going to the missions but it did not dampen his enthusiasm for the Society, nor did it make him conserve his energy in raising funds to support the seminarians who were increasing in numbers.

He continued at his post until illness made it necessary to transfer him to Monrovia, Cal. where he died March 7, 1922. Funeral and burial took place in Los Angeles.