Men who selected the priesthood as a second or third career have always intrigued me. Many of them were successful pursuing a secular profession or occupation. In spite of their worldly accomplishments, those individuals have insisted that something was missing in their lives, that is, until they decided to answer God’s call to the priesthood. Once they accepted that invitation, their lives were radically changed.

Father Thomas Murphy is a classical example of a person who spent years searching for a way of life which could offer him peace of mind and, at the same time, satisfy the deepest yearnings of his soul to please God. Like St. Augustine, he had experienced a restlessness of spirit before he became aware of what plan God had in store for him.

Thomas Murphy, the son of Robert and Helen Murphy, was born in the City of Indianapolis on January 24, 1932, during the great depression. His father was a salesman for a large manufacturing company. His mother was a housewife who raised four children. One of his brothers served as a vice-president in public relations for the University of Notre Dame. His other brother became a special investigator for the FBI. His only sister was a mother of six children. She died in May, 2000.

Thomas enrolled at the University of Notre Dame and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. Immediately after receiving his college diploma, he joined the army and spent two years in Tokyo, Japan. Since he was a musician, the chaplain asked him to direct a Japanese college choir that had been invited to sing for the reception of the apostolic delegate. While discussing this assignment with me, Father Murphy commented, “Just imagine, I, an American GI, had been asked to teach Japanese students how to sing in Latin for the reception of the papal delegate! I was pleased with their rendition of Ecce Sacerdos (Behold the High Priest).

“On August 15, before leaving Japan, a priest friend and I climbed Mt. Fujiyama. When we reached the summit, the priest celebrated Mass in a hut. That experience was one of the many highlights in my life.

“While stationed in the Orient, I visited Saigon, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and the Philippines. That tour was made in 1956. I became personally acquainted with a variety of cultures and life styles which reinforced my conviction that the Catholic Church is truly a universal institution which embraces all humanity. Perhaps I should also mention that I made a solo trip to Russia in 1967,” he added.

As soon as Father Murphy returned to his home, he enrolled at Indiana University to study law. The law degree was awarded to him in 1961. His interest in that profession was kindled by President John Kennedy’s historic statement, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

Tom Murphy practiced law in the city of his birth for nineteen years. At the same time he taught students at Marian College which is located in Indianapolis.

This lawyer had been reared in a closely knit family. Just as the Kennedy Family frequently met to play and dine together, as well as to exchange ideas and plan for the future, the Murphys likewise met on many occasions during the year to socialize and discuss important and current issues. At one family dinner, Tom Murphy announced that he intended to run for public office by seeking a position in the State House of Representatives. Family members voiced their unanimous approval. He was elected by a wide margin and served as a representative for two years. Most of his political activity was focused on urban renewal. He continued his law practice while serving in the state legislature. As a state representative, he made many social contacts and enjoyed a comfortable life.

A decisive turning point occurred in his life during the year 1968 when he joined a Serra Club in Indianapolis. Chapters of that organization had been established throughout the world in order to foster vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Evidently his presence caught the attention of the national and international directors because his name was later submitted as a candidate for the presidency of Serra International. He was elected on the first ballot during the International Convention in Toronto, Canada. The year was 1978.

President Thomas Murphy’s first duty in office was to visit Mexico. There he detected for the first time the international flavor of the Serra organization. Because that work brought him in close contact with clergy from many nations, he began to wonder whether he was being invited by God to serve him in a special way. “Were it not for my work with Serra International, perhaps I would have never discovered that God was calling me to the priesthood,” he declared.

Tom Murphy mentioned that priests who were his friends in Indianapolis always supported his interests in law, politics, or Serran activities. He often played tennis with them and felt at ease discussing timely and vital topics which affected his life and the lives of others.

During this period in his life, Tom Murphy was engaged in many other activities. He served as the organist for Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis. “All my life,” he recalled, “I tried to remain close to the Lord through the medium of the liturgy. In addition to my duties at the cathedral, I provided music for the 12:10 daily Mass at St. John’s Church.”

“Sometimes,” he confided to me, “I thought that I would marry. At such moments of uncertainty, I still felt a strong attraction to the priesthood. My call to serve God in such a special way was not as striking as St. Paul’s conversion to Christianity,” he laughed.

Later, when Tom informed the Archbishop of Indianapolis that he wished to become a priest, he was sent to the North American College and Angelicum in Rome. While pursuing theological studies, he was the organist at the Paulist Church in Rome.

In 1985, at the age of 53, Thomas Murphy became Father Murphy when he was ordained a priest at his home parish, Our Lady of Lourdes, in Indianapolis. After his ordination, he worked as an associate pastor for twenty-two months in St. Paul’s Parish. Later he became the pastor of St. Joan of Arc. Since 1993, he has been the pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in downtown Indianapolis.

One of his parishioners, Mary Jo Keegan, remembers incidents which have occurred while Father Murphy has been serving the people of St. John’s. A few years ago one of the workers, who had been installing a new roof on the building adjacent to the rectory, lost his balance and fell to the ground. He died almost instantaneously.

Several weeks after the unfortunate victim had been buried, his mother and brother visited Father Murphy to learn more about the accident. This priest spent considerable time answering all of their questions. Then he suggested that they go out-of-doors to inspect the site where the member of their family had died. While they were gazing at the scene of the accident, Father Murphy suggested, “Now let’s kneel down and offer a prayer for the repose of his soul.” This sensitive and compassionate pastor always knew what to say or do at the proper time.

On the day that John Cardinal O’Connor of New York City was buried, Father Thomas Murphy also buried one of his own parishioners. As part of the homily, he announced, “Today we are officiating at the funerals of two great souls in our Church, namely, Cardinal O’Connor and this beloved mother.” Tears flowed freely during the funeral Mass. The six children of that deceased mother will never forget the high esteem Father Murphy displayed by comparing her to one of our American cardinals. Father also revealed by his thoughtful words that ecclesiastical rank or worldly prestige are not as important as being a child of God.

Mary Jo Keegan voiced her approval when I referred to Father Thomas Murphy as a “priest for all seasons,” just as St. Thomas More was a “man for all seasons.” Both men were lawyers. Both have labored zealously for the welfare of others. Similarly Thomas More and Thomas Murphy had chosen to be loyal and dedicated to Christ the King.

Members of St. John the Evangelist Parish feel comfortable in the presence of their pastor. He is always attired in his clerical garb and wishes to be recognized as a priest. Those parishioners have noticed that he is justifiably proud of having served his country as a soldier and his clients as a lawyer. Now he is serving his people as a priest. I myself have never met another clergyman with such a rich and varied background.

This priest for all seasons regards the priesthood as the highest dignity which can be bestowed on a human being. To him the rank of priesthood is superior to the rank of being a king. The priest’s powers are spiritual and eternal, whereas an earthly king’s powers are worldly and ephemeral.

As a man of God, Father Murphy strives to achieve the highest ideals of the priesthood as well as a greater intimacy with the Lord. He believes that the attainment of such goals will not only make his pastoral ministry more effective, but also influence young men and women to dedicate their lives unselfishly to the service of God.

According to Father Thomas Murphy, material things are unimportant in his life. Friendships, family life, and love are the significant values which he has always cherished. He numbers among his friends the elite as well as the poor and homeless. He is especially devoted to people who suffer and are in need.

Recently one of his close friends, Father Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C. (former president of Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana), was recognized for the role he played in the civil rights movement. The president of the United States conferred on him the highest award that can be given to a private citizen. Father Thomas Murphy stood at Father Hesburgh’s side when the Notre Dame priest was accorded that special honor. Father Murphy’s friendship is highly prized by those who refer to him as their friend.

This pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish is deeply concerned about the shortage of priests in the United States today. Nonetheless, he refuses to succumb to discouragement. He remains confident that many of the problems in the church will be solved by our laity under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. “While serving as the International president of Serra, I discovered that these people are truly gifted and have often achieved a success which exceeded my expectations of them,” he told me.

May Father Thomas Murphy’s priestly ministry continue to flourish for many more years! It has been said that, if every priest in our country could foster one priestly vocation in his life, there would be no clergy shortage in our parishes. Father Thomas Murphy would agree wholeheartedly with that assertion. 

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