byFather Robert M. O’Grady Pilot Staff
Father Thomas B. Corcoran Pilot file photo
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Father Thomas B. Corcoran died unexpectedly on May 17, 2022. The date was the 24th anniversary of the celebration of his Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Catherine of Siena Church, Norwood. He had been ordained May 16, 1998, by Bernard Cardinal Law at Holy Cross Cathedral.
Born in Boston on Feb. 4, 1955, he was raised in St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Norwood -- of both Norwood and his home parish he was immensely proud. After graduation from Norwood High School in 1973, he entered Bentley College, from which he graduated in 1977, having majored in business accounting. After working for a decade and a half in business, he heard a different call and entered Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, and on completion of his seminary studies, he was ordained for the Archdiocese of Boston.
During his almost 25 years of priestly ministry, he served in archdiocesan parishes as parochial vicar: St. John the Evangelist, Swampscott; St. Ann, Neponset; St. Ann and St. Catherine of Genoa, both in Somerville; St. Mary and St. John the Evangelist, both in Chelmsford; Blessed Sacrament and St. Margaret of Antioch, both in Saugus; he also served as chaplain of the Archdiocesan Union of Holy Name Societies (2006-2021). In November 2021, he was granted senior priest/retirement status and lived at St. Catherine Rectory, Norwood, before his move just a few weeks prior to his death to Regina Cleri Residence, Boston.
West Regional Bishop Robert Reed, himself a former parochial vicar at the Norwood parish, was the principal celebrant of Father Corcoran's funeral Mass at St. Catherine Church on May 23, 2022. The parish's current pastor, Father Stephen S. Donohoe served as the homilist and among the concelebrating priests were Father Thomas R. Sullivan, the parish's parochial vicar; Father Anthony J. Medairos, senior vicar at the parish; and Father Gerard Petringa, pastor of the neighboring St. Timothy Parish, Norwood.
Father Corcoran was predeceased by his parents Thomas and Cecilia (Lynch) Corcoran and is survived by his siblings: Martin, Provincetown; and Stephen and Joanne Regan, both of Norwood. Following the funeral Mass, Father Corcoran was buried in Highland Cemetery, Norwood.