January 9, 1956
Father Thomas Kirby
Father Thomas Kirby was ordained for the Diocese of Wichita at All Hallows Seminary, Dublin, Ireland on June 21, 1953. In October he arrived in Wichita and was appointed as an associate pastor at St. Patrick’s Parish in Wichita. He suffered from an abdominal malignancy in January of 1955 and was operated on at St. Francis Hospital. After his release from the hospital on February 12, 1955, he became assistant chaplain at St. Francis Hospital. In April he returned to Ireland for rest and an extended visit with his family. He continued to grow worse from his ailment and died on January 9, 1956 in City Hospital in Limerick at 27 years of age. Father Edward Griffin, the chaplain of the hospital wrote, “Father Kirby has been very brave and is quite resigned to God’s will. He is an edification to all of us by his patience and Christ-like gentleness.” (The Advance Register, Jan. 12, 1956) A memorial Mass was celebrated at St. Patrick’s Parish in Wichita with Father Thomas Green as celebrant and Father Patrick Leahy, also a native of Limerick and a close friend of Fr. Kirby, as preacher.