Thomas Daniel Beaven
Beaven was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, and received his early education there. After graduating from Holy Cross College at Worcester in 1870, he taught mathematics at Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland for a year. He then studied theology at the Grand Seminary of Montreal in Montreal, Quebec. Beaven was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Springfield on December 18, 1875. He then served as assistant pastor of a parish in Spencer, Massachusetts, until 1879, when he became its pastor. In 1888, he was made pastor of Holy Rosary Parish in Holyoke, Massachusetts. On August 9, 1892, Beaven was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Springfield by Pope Leo XIII. He received his episcopal consecration on October 18, 1892, from Archbishop John Williams, with Bishops Denis Bradley and John Michaud serving as co-consecrators, at St. Michael's Cathedral in Springfield. A humble individual, Beaven preferred to ride the trolley rather than use a private carriage to get around Springfield. In addition to French and Irish parishes, Beaven established churches for Polish, Italian, Lithuanian, Slovakian and Maronite Rite Catholics. During his tenure, he opened the Beaven-Kelly Home for senior men; a home for abandoned infants; hospitals in Worcester, Springfield, Montague, and Adams; orphanages in Holyoke, Worcester, and Leicester; a House of the Good Shepherd at Springfield; and residences for single working women in many places. Beaven died on October 5, 1920 at age 69. He was buried in St. Augustine’s Chapel at St. Michael’s Cathedral.
Biography ; Bishop of Springfield
He served as the second bishop of the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts from 1892 to 1920.