Services set for Father Thomas L. Culleton

Intermountain Catholic

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Father Thomas L. Culleton

Father Thomas L. Culleton died peacefully Nov. 30, 2011, at Saint Joseph’s Villa after a long illness. 

Thomas L. Culleton was born Jan. 23, 1927 in Los Angeles, Calif. to Marcella Ada Brown and Thomas Patrick Culleton. The family moved to Midvale, Utah, where he attended elementary school. Later, he attended Judge Memorial Catholic High School and West High School in Salt Lake City. He went to the University of Utah, served three years active duty in the Korean War in the United States Air Force, and then worked for two years as a merchant seaman. In 1952, he entered Our Lady of the Holy Trinity Abbey in Huntsville, Utah as a lay brother and remained there until 1973. After leaving the Trappists, he moved to Santa Clara, Calif., where he taught religious education, did drug-rehabilitation work with young people, and assisted the Carmelite nuns. In 1986, he entered Mount Angel Seminary, Saint Benedict, Oregon, and was ordained for the Diocese of Salt Lake City on August 23, 1991 by Bishop William K. Weigand. 

As a priest, Father Tom served as parochial vicar at St. Ambrose Parish, Salt Lake City, and then as pastor of St. Bridget in Milford, St. John Bosco in Delta, and Holy Family in Fillmore from 1992 to 1995. He was pastor of St. Helen in Roosevelt from 1995 to 2002, and chaplain of Christus St. Joseph Villa in Salt Lake and for the Carmelite nuns from 2002 to 2004, when he retired from active priestly ministry. Father Tom was known as a gentle, compassionate and generous priest who deeply loved his ministry and those he served.

The vigil service will be Friday, Dec. 2, with visitation from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with the funeral vigil celebrated at 7 p.m. by Msgr. Michael Winterer at Neil O’Donnell and Sons Mortuary, 372 East 100 South, Salt Lake City. The funeral Mass will be at the Cathedral of the Madeleine on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 1 p.m.  Bishop John C. Wester will preside and preach.  Graveside services will take place at Mount Calvary Cemetery in the Priests’ Circle north of the altar.

Requiescat Thomas in pace.