He was raised in the town of Willis, TX, in a family of one brother and four sisters. In Father’s own words, “I was homeschooled all through elementary school and all four years of High School. During those years, prayer in my family was an important aspect of my development. We tried as a family to pray daily. I truly believe that my vocation was fostered in that time of prayer spent with my family. Praying with my family also helped to develop in me a love of the rosary and a strong devotion to our Lady.
“My high school homeschooling was done through Seton Home Study School. Seton was a hard, but rewarding undertaking that taught me a lot about self-discipline and helped me to develop a strong work ethic.
“After I graduated from High School, I developed a great love and devotion to our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and found great strength and consolation from Him. I decided to focus my attention on the discernment of a priestly vocation. I went to visit the Franciscans in Hanceville, AL, where I met Fr. Wade Menezes with the Fathers of Mercy.
“I am grateful to be a part of the grace-filled religious community, The Fathers of Mercy, whose early mission work and current mission work has led to the proliferation of Catholic faith and conversion of many to it throughout the world. I am blessed to be able to work with other Fathers of Mercy together to foster spiritual growth, catechetical encounter and conversion in the care of the souls at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, America’s Approved Marian Apparition Site. God has given me many great gifts – simple things, like a strong faith and a close family, and I hope to give back through my mission work at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help.”
Father Thomas Reagan is serving as a Chaplain at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help.
Fr. Thomas grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and Cincinnati, the oldest of three children. Upon graduating from Purdue University, Fr. Thomas worked for IBM as an engineer and as a project manager. He received his master’s degree in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville. Fr. Thomas was ordained to the priesthood for the Fathers of Mercy in 2016, and previously served as parochial vicar at St. Helen Church in Glasgow, KY, and Our Lady of the Caves in Horse Cave, KY.