CONATY, Thomas James, American Ro man Catholic prelate: b. Ireland, 1 Aug. 1847; d. Coronado Beach, Cal., 18 Sept. 1915. In 1850 he came with his parents to America, the family settling in Taunton, Mass., and in the district schools of that city he received his primary education. He entered the college of Saint Sulpice, Montreal, in 1863, completed his humanities in 1867, and spent the following two years at Holy Cross College, Worcester, Mass., being graduated in 1869. His ecclesi astical course was pursued at the Seminary of $aint Sulpice, Montreal, where he was ordained priest 21 Dec. 1872. First named assistant at Saint John's Church, Worcester, Mass., and afterward chosen pastor of the church of the Sacred Heart in that city, Father Conaty was actively interested in the advancement of Cath olic education. He was likewise an ardent pro moter of the temperance cause, being first pres ident of the Springfield Diocesan Temperance Union, and, in 1887, national president of the Catholic Abstinence Union of America. Father
Conaty was also prominent in establishing the Catholic Summer School in 1892—the same now flourishing at Plattsburg, N. Y.— being its president from 1893 to 1897. In 1889 George town University conferred upon him the title of D.D., and in 1896 Laval University, Que bec, bestowed the same honor. He was chosen rector of the Catholic University in 1896, made a domestic prelate in 1897, consecrated titular bishop of Samos, 24 Nov. 1901, and appointed bishop of Monterey and Los Angeles, 27 March 1903. He was a frequent contributor to various periodicals, and is the author of 'New Testa ment Studies) now used in many Catholic schools.