Monsignor Thomas Francis Campion Biography

Family

• Born May 11, 1931 - mother’s name - Gertrude Campion Croak (dec. 8/14/93)
• Father died when he was a very young boy
• One brother, Paul Edward - dec. 8/8/83
• One sister - Theresa (living in Arizona)

Education

• Graduated from: St. Mary’s Grade School, Janesville, WI
• St. Francis Minor Seminary High School, Milwaukee, WI
• St. Norbert College, West DePere, WI
• St. John’s Seminary, Collegeville, MN

Ordained a priest on May 25, 1957 at the Cathedral of St. Raphael, Madison, WI

Assignments

• St. Mary’s, Portage, WI
• St. Bernard’s, Madison, WI
• St. Jude, Beloit, WI
• St. James, Madison, WI
  
• Diocesan Catholic Youth Organization Director
• Teacher at Edgewood High School
• Teacher at Beloit Catholic High School
• Chaplain, Madison General Hospital
• Founding and Current Director - Apostolate to the Handicapped - Oct. 31, 1967
• Chaplain, St. Clare Hospital (now Monroe Clinic Hospital)

Other Notable Events

• First TV mass on WISC-TV Channel 3, Madison, WI - first Sunday of Advent 1967
• First Christmas party for the handicapped at Holy Name Seminary - 1/6/1968
• Apostolate to the Handicapped moved to St. Clare Hospital on May 1, 1971
• Father Campion spoke in Rome at the Vatican - Commission on Disabled Persons - October 1992
• State of Wisconsin Certificate of Commendation presented by then Governor Tommy Thompson - April 1992
• Named Prelate of Honor (Monsignor) by Pope John Paul II - August 2000
• Celebrated 50 years as a Priest on May 27, 2007.
• Twice named, Madison Magazine’s “Clergyman of the Year”.

Monsignor Campion was presented the “Hometown Hero Award” by the Wisconsin State Assembly, when Representative Brett Davis (formerly of Monroe and one of Monsignor’s past acolytes) recognized Monsignor for “his fifty years of leadership, service and commitment to the church community as well as his service as Chaplain of St. Clare Hospital/Monroe Clinic and dedication to the needs of the youth, elderly and handicapped.”