William Thomas Larkin

William Thomas Larkin (March 31, 1923 – November 4, 2006) was a prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg in Florida from 1979 to 1988.

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

William Thomas Larkin
Bishop of St. Petersburg
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
SeeDiocese of St. Petersburg
PredecessorCharles Borromeo McLaughlin
SuccessorJohn Clement Favalora
Orders
OrdinationMay 15, 1947
by Walter Foery
ConsecrationMay 27, 1979
by Pope John Paul II
Personal details
BornMarch 31, 1923
Mount Morris, New York
DiedNovember 4, 2006(2006-11-04) (aged 83)
Clearwater, Florida, US
EducationAngelicum University

Biography

Early life

William Larkin was born in Mount Morris, New York, on March 31, 1923. He attended St. Andrews and St. Bernard seminaries in Rochester, New York. He was ordained as a priest in Syracuse, New York, for the Diocese of St. Augustine on May 15, 1947, by Bishop Walter Foery.

After his ordination, Larking served in a parish in Daytona Beach, Florida. He then studied at the Angelicum University in Rome, where he became a roommate of the future Pope John Paul II. Larkin help him study English. Larkin received a Doctor of Sacred Theology degree in 1949.[1]

After returning from Rome in 1949, Larkin was assigned to work in the chancery of the Diocese of St Augustine. In 1951, he became associate pastor of Holy Family Parish in North Miami. Florida. He was transferred in 1954 to become pastor of Christ the King Parish in Jacksonville, Florida.[2] Larkin became pastor in 1967 of St. Cecilia Parish in Clearwater, Florida, also serving as vicar general of the diocese.[3] After the death of Bishop Charles McLaughlin in 1978, Larkin served as interim administrator of the Diocese of St. Petersburg.[4]

Bishop of St. Petersburg

Larkin was appointed as the second bishop of St. Petersburg by John Paul II on April 18, 1979.[5] He was consecrated on May 27, 1979, by the pope in Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome.[6] During Larkin's tenure as bishop, the diocese added 15 new parishes, three new schools, and a radio station (WBVM 90.5 FM).[1] He created new offices for African-American and Hispanic Catholics, along with an office for Catholics with disabilities.[7] Larkin also worked on services for the needy and for those with HIV/AIDS, and was a strong advocate for ecumenicism.[6]

Retirement and legacy

On November 29, 1988, John Paul II accepted Larkin's resignation as bishop of St. Petersburg for health reasons. William Larkin died of leukemia in Clearwater, Florida, on November 4, 2006, at age 83.[6][4] Bishop Larkin Catholic School in Port Richey, Florida is named in his honor, as is the Bishop W. Thomas Larkin Pastoral Center in St. Petersburgh. He was a bishop of 24 years.

References
  1. "Larkin". South Florida Sun Sentinel. 2006-11-06. p. 25. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  2. "The Orlando Sentinel 25 Apr 1979, page Page 252". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  3. "Tampa Bay Times 31 Dec 1988, page 51". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  4. "Larkin". Tampa Bay Times. 2006-11-05. p. 1. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  5. "Larkin". The Tampa Tribune. 1979-04-26. p. 11. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  6. "Bishop William Thomas Larkin". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  7. "Larkin". The Tampa Tribune. 1988-11-30. p. 18. Retrieved 2022-12-21.

Episcopal succession


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