Retired music director remains a familiar face in the Cathedral
Received papal honor in 2024
A long-familiar face can occasionally be seen at the console of the new organ in the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Jefferson City.
Thomas Halpin, retired former music director at the Cathedral, assists in providing musical accompaniment at the Cathedral and other local parishes as needed.
“I’m so grateful to Tom,” said Andrew Meagher, DMA, current director of music at the Cathedral. “He’s been so gracious in showing me the ropes here, letting me know the pitfalls, and helping me play the Masses.”
Mr. Halpin’s work for the Cathedral parish and the diocese drew the attention of the late Pope Francis, who honored him last spring with a prestigious Benemerenti Medal.
The Benemerenti Medal is bestowed upon “those well deserving in Christian matters.”
“Benemerenti” is Latin for “good merit.”
The honor is conferred on people “who have shown an active fidelity to and love for the Church,” for “distinguished service to Catholic principles, the Church and society.”
Archbishop Shawn McKnight nominated Mr. Halpin for the honor and conferred it upon him on Father’s Day last year.
“Tom has worked at St. Mary Magdalen in Wilmington, Delaware and St. Joseph in Toms River, New Jersey, before being hired at the Cathedral of St. Joseph by Monsignor Robert A. Kurwicki in 2015, where he served faithfully until his retirement in August 2023,” Archbishop McKnight stated at that time.
“Mr. Halpin is a talented organist and pianist who provided the best liturgical support for the Cathedral parish liturgies and the diocesan celebrations held at the Cathedral,” the archbishop stated.
Father Louis Nelen, who previously served as pastor of Cathedral of St. Joseph Parish, enthusiastically endorsed nominating Mr. Halpin for the papal honor.
“He is a talented organist and good pianist who made every attempt to provide the best liturgical support possible, both for the Cathedral parish liturgies and the diocesan celebrations held at the Cathedral,” wrote Fr. Nelen, who is now pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Moberly.
He noted that Mr. Halpin shared his knowledge and skills for many years as a member of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission, helping to review the worship aids for diocesan liturgies.
Fr. Nelen said Mr. Halpin properly viewed the Cathedral liturgies as providing a model for good liturgy throughout the diocese.
“He was not afraid to work hard, and he cared deeply for maintaining the positive reputation of the diocese and especially of the local ordinary,” Fr. Nelen stated.
Near the end of his tenure, Mr. Halpin began the work of reestablishing a youth choir and a children’s choir at the parish in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the extensive renovation of the Cathedral, Mr. Halpin took charge of establishing a temporary plan for music at Masses in the school gymnasium, “usually being the first to arrive to set up for Saturday evening Mass and the last to leave with the pastor after the final Sunday morning Mass,” Fr. Nelen noted.
“Mr. Halpin continues to be a faithful member of the Cathedral parish, as he now considers this to be his home,” the priest noted.
A dream fulfilled
Mr. Halpin was born in Philadelphia. He received all of his Sacraments of Initiation and his elementary education in Most Blessed Sacrament parish.
It was as an altar server in his parish that he heard the organ played at Masses and decided that is what he wanted to do with his life.
As a student at West Catholic High School in Philadelphia, he began his serious organ studies with Anselmo lnforzato, a member of the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission.
He attended the University of the Arts, receiving a Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education.
He studied with Robert Plimpton and Robert Elmore.
Mr. Elmore was the most distinguished pupil of Pietro Yon, the one-time Music Director of the Cathedral of Saint Patrick in New York City.
Mr. Halpin studied choir and handbell choir directing at Westminster College in Princeton, New Jersey, during a summer course.
Liturgical courses were pursued at the evening sessions of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Overbrook Pennsylvania where he earned a Roman Catechetical Diploma.
By age 15, young Thomas had his first job, providing organ accompaniment for Mass in Polish at St. Mary of Czestochowa Parish in Philadelphia.
For the next 50 years, he served in the Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Methodist churches.
He has been gracious and generous with his time in retirement.
“The transition couldn’t have gone any better,” said Dr. Meagher. “Tom has continued to be a very good friend to me and my wife, Kathy. I can’t tell you how much I’ve appreciated his friendship these past two years.”
The Benemerenti Medal was instituted by Pope Gregory XVI in 1832.
The medal is worn over the chest, suspended by ribbons of the papal colors. It is a gold Greek cross depicting the image of Christ, his hand raised in blessing.
On the left of the transverse arm of the cross is a depiction of the tiara and crossed keys — symbols of the papacy.
“I’m grateful that the Holy Father, Pope Francis, has bestowed this special honor of the Benemerenti Medal upon you,” Archbishop McKnight told Mr. Haplin.
