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Father Thomas Farrell
Father Tom’s family tree on his father’s side. (on grandfather’s side)
Great grandparents – Michael and Mary (Finnigan) Farrell
Michael born in Ireland – Mary born in Canada
Stepmother - Margaret (Farrell) Farrell
Margaret – also born in Canada
Grandparent – James Farrell (Michael and Mary’s child)
James born in Canada
Father Tom’s family tree on his father’s side. (on grandmother’s side)
Great grandparents – William and Johanna (Hennessen) Weyers
William born in Germany – Johanna born in German
Grandparent – Henrietta Weyers (William and Johanna’s child)
Henrietta born in Brillion, WI. U.S.A.
Grandparents – James and Henrietta (Weyers) Farrell
Parent – Terence (Terry) Farrell (James & Henrietta’s child)
Terry born in Kaukauna, WI. U.S.A.
Father Tom’s family tree on his mother’s side. (on grandfather’s side)
Great grandparents – Ferdinand (Fred) and Barbara (Rodaer)Smet
Fred born in Belgium – Barbara born in Belgium
Grandparent – Francis (Frank) Smet (Ferdinand & Barb’s child)
Frank born in De Pere, WI, U.S.A.
Great grandparents – John and Deborah (McCoy) Bacon. (on grandmother’s side)
John born in England – Deborah born in Ireland
Grandparent – Annabelle Bacon (John and Deborah’s child)
Annabelle born in Askeaton, WI, U.S.A.
Grandparents – Francis (Frank) and Annabelle (Bacon) Smet
Parent – Viola Smet ( Frank’s and Annabelle’s child)
Viola born in Green Bay, WI, U.S.A
Parents – Terry and Viola (Smet) Farrell
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Father Tom Farrell was born June 3, 1954 at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay. He is the son of Terence and Viola (Smet) Farrell. He grew up in rural Kaukauna on Golden Glow Road next to the Jim & Henrietta (Weyers) Farrell homestead, the home of his grandparents. The Farrell family migrated from Ireland, settling in Canada in the 1800’s. Michael Farrell, Jim Farrell’s dad, and Fr. Tom’s grandfather, was born in Ireland in 1844, and migrated to Ontario, Canada. In 1872, at age 28, he and his wife Mary (Finnigan), born in Ontario, moved to the United States with her parents, and their one year old son, James, and settled in Hawkins, WI. Five years later in 1877, Michael and Mary moved to Wrightstown, WI.
Michael’s wife, Mary, died a few years later leaving behind four sons, and a daughter. Michael went back to Ontario to marry Margaret Farrell (no relation) and then returned to Wrightstown. Jim & Margaret had one daughter and then raised their six children on a farm. Michael was the first person in the town of Wrightstown to build a home with 2 x 4 lumber – all homes prior to this were made of logs. He was also the first man in Wrightstown to purchase a lawn mower. He started the first Wrightstown bank, which only lasted two years, and later sold his farm to the Kimberly Clark Paper Mill. The Michael Farrell family donated a stained glass window to St. Paul’s Catholic church in Wrightstown. (It’s dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel)
The Farrell grave stone is one of the oldest in St. Paul’s cemetery. The stone is in the image of a large log cross, with eleven small logs in front of it. Many in the Farrell family died from diphtheria, the reason for most of the eleven stones. Michael’s son Jim married Henrietta Weyers from Hollandtown, WI. Around 1900 they moved to Kaukauna and had 13 children. Jim & Henrietta are buried in Freedom. Henrietta’s parents, William Weyers and Johanna Tennessen were both born in Kessel, Germany in 1841 and 1851. They came to America, and were married in Brown County, WI in 1871. They settled in Brillon, and then Hollandtown, Wand had ten children. Their daughter, Henrietta, married Jim Farrell, Fr. Tom’s grandparents. William & Johanna Weyers are buried in St. Francis Cemetery, Hollandtown.
Jim and Henrietta’s son, Ray, purchased the farm next door to his parents and then sold it to his brother, Terry Farrell, Fr Tom’s father.
Fr. Tom’s mother’s family came from England, Ireland, and Belgium. In the 1800’s, Father Tom’s grandmother, Annabelle (Bacon) on his mother’s side, who was the daughter of John Bacon, who was born in England, and the daughter of Deborah McCoy, who was born in Ireland. They had both migrated from their countries at the same time, meeting each other on the ship as they were traveling to America. John Bacon brought with him from England a black sheep, while Deborah McCoy brought a spinning wheel. They arrived in New York, and then moved to the small town of Askeaton, WI (about 10 miles from Wrightstown). John and Deborah Bacon raised twelve children in Askeaton, their daughter Annabelle, is Fr. Tom’s grandmother. The family owned a dairy farm. Annabelle Bacon married Frank Smet, in the early 1900’s.
Frank Smet’s parents, Ferdinand and Barbara (Rodaer) Smet came to America from Belgium, leaving 3 of their 7 children behind, and settled in De Pere. Their son, Frank, purchased a stone quarry on Scrays Hill in De Pere, very near the new St. Mary’s Catholic Church, the Church Frank and Annabelle would eventually join.
NOTE: John Bacon, Jr., a son of John, Sr. and a brother to Annabelle, was the godfather to Fr. Richard Gilsdorf, who had been pastor of Holy Trinity parish in Casco. Fr. Tom was the next priest to be assigned at Holy Trinity. Fr. Tom also gave the homily at Fr. Gilsdorf’s funeral.
Annabelle and Frank had eight children, one of their daughters is Viola Smet, who married Terry Farrell, the parents of Father Tom. Fr. Tom’s dad worked at Kimberly Clark Paper Mill, and served in World War II. After the war, Terry married Viola Smet. They raised their family in rural Kaukauna. He and Viola had four children, Marion (Randy Servais), Fr. Tom, Shirley & Joan (Russ Saari). They attended St. Nicholas in Freedom. Fr. Kools baptized Fr Tom.
NOTE: Fr. Tom met the youngest brother of Father Kool’s in 1992 when he was assigned to St. Bernard’s Parish in Appleton. At the funeral of Fr. Kool’s brother, Fr.Tom received a pix* that belonged to Father Kools, along with a sketch by Father Kool’s of St. Nicholas Church. The sketch was for his Christmas cards in 1954 the year Fr. Tom was born.
*A pix is the gold circular container used to carry a communion host for the sick.
Fr. Tom’s godparents were Joe & Clare (Farrell) Pompa. Fr. Tom received First Reconciliation, and First Eucharist from Fr. Al Hietpas, and became a mass server in fourth grade. In those days, the servers were enrolled and vested after communion. A neatly folded black cassock and white surplice were presented to the servers after which they would be vested in the sacristy. They would return to the sanctuary in cassock and surplice to receive their certificate, be presented to the congregation, and receive a blessing from the priest.
Fr. Tom attended St. Nicholas Catholic Grade School in the Town of Freedom. He had thought about the priesthood since 2nd grade. Several priests influenced Fr. Tom’s life, but the most significant person was Fr. Al Hietpas. He had a great love for children, and a great love for the priesthood. He tried to visit the homes of as many parishioners as he could during the summer. Fr. Tom can recall one of Fr. Al’s visits when he was very young, and being lifted high in he air by Fr. Al, as he greeted his parents. Fr. Paul Schumacher, Lakewood, along with Fr. Tom’s cousin, Fr. Norbert Verhagen, also had a positive influence on him. Fr. Norbert was a Maryknoll Missionary serving just outside of Mexico City. He would visit the Farrell home most summers, and usually bring slides of his mission. He was very enthusiastic. Fr. Norbert is the son of Wilhelmina Weyers, his grandmother, Henrietta’s sister, and Henry Verhagen. (Fr. Norbert, is 95 years old, and has just celebrated 70 years in 2009, as a priest). Fr. Tom’s sister, Joan, was born when he was in sixth grade. Because he and his sister, Marion, were confirmed that year, they were given permission to be her godparents. A year later, Fr. Tom’s parents sold the farm in rural Kaukauna and moved to Wrightstown, (This is where Fr. Tom eventually has his first mass). As a young man he served mass at St. Mary’s, Lakewood for Fr. Paul Schumacher, where his family often vacationed. (This is the same Fr. Schumacher Fr. Brian knows. He was later assigned to a parish in Two Rivers.)
It was Fr. Schumacher who invited Fr. Tom to join him, and two other students (Ron Hinch & Bill Oafh) to tour the High School Seminary campus. Fr. Tom thought about priesthood throughout grade school, and with the guidance of Fr. Hietpas, Fr. Schumacher, and the support of his parents, he attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Oneida for his first two years of high school. He experienced some difficulty in academics however, (primarily biology) so he completed his high school education at Wrightstown, graduating in 1972. Fr. Tom left the idea of further education behind for several reasons, the first being the fact that he didn’t enjoy school, and the second because he didn’t feel he had a calling to the priesthood. After graduation he got a job as a stockman at a Prange-Way discount store on the west side of Appleton. A year later he became employed at Rich’s Bakery just a few blocks from Prange-Way. Fr. Tom worked at Rich’s for over ten years before he pursued the priesthood. During his first few years at Rich’s, he once again began to examine his faith life. The prayers of St. Bridget, and daily mass at St. Joseph’s parish in Appleton, were several of the avenues that he had partaken in that helped him to grow closer to God.
Fr. Ambrose Degroot from St. Joseph’s parish, encouraged him to look at the diocese of Green Bay. Because he had not gone to college, Fr. Tom attended Silver Lake College for one year 1984-1985 while maintaining his job at Rich’s, before entering St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland in 1985.
Fr. Tom was ordained on August 22nd, the feast of the Queen-ship of Mary in 1992. His assignments as associate pastor include St. Bernard parish Appleton, with Fr Orville Janssen 1992-1996. Sacred Heart parish, Shawano, with Fr. Len Evers 1996-1997. He was pastor at Holy Trinity parish in Casco 1997-1999, SS Peter & Paul parish in Green Bay 1999-2005. And St. Pius X parish 2005 to the present. While serving SS Peter & Paul parish, Fr. Tom had two seminarians assigned to him as interns, now diocesan priests: Fr. John Girotti, and Fr. Pat Beno. As pastor of St. Pius X, he has had over the last few years three associates. Fr. Brian Belongia, Fr. Quinn Mann, and Fr. Andy Kysely. All parish assignments helped him grow in his faith and helped him appreciate his Priesthood.
As of August 22nd 2009, Fr. Tom is 17 years a priest. Fr. Tom’s dad died August 11, 2005, and his mother died July 18, 2006. Please pray for them. Fr. Tom’s sisters are doing well - Oct. 09
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