Father Tom Whittingham is Welcomed at MMR

Media Contact:                        LeeAnn Augustine

            Communications Coordinator

            Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Parish

            (215) 450-7885

WELCOMES REV. THOMAS P. WHITTINGHAM

MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, PA, JULY 5, 2012 – The faith community of Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Parish is pleased to welcome Reverend Thomas P. Whittingham as parochial vicar. Archbishop J. Charles Chaput O.F.M. Cap ordained Father Whittingham a priest on May 19, 2012, at the Cathedral-Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia and appointed him to the parish on Monday, June 18. Father Whittingham is 33 years old and is the son of Paul and Martha Whittingham of Aiken, South Carolina. “I've known Father Whittingham for a few years now. He has lots of energy, and is willing to ‘jump right in’ whenever and wherever needed,” said MMR pastor, Reverend Monsignor John T. Conway. “His generosity was clearly evident in his first days here, when, during our annual Summer Festival, he worked the cash register in the kitchen and then spent a few hours making funnel cakes,” Conway continued.  

A native of Madison, Wisconsin, Father Whittingham grew up in Oak Ridge, Tennessee where he attended Saint Mary Parish Elementary School, Jefferson Junior High School, and Oak Ridge High School.  He earned BS degrees in Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2001.  Fr. Whittingham has lived in Philadelphia since 2001 when he began graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania.  He received an M.A. in Statistics in 2006 prior to entering St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.  While at St. Charles he earned an M.Div in 2011 and an M.A. in Theology in 2012. Prior to ordination Fr. Whittingham served as a deacon at Saint Patrick Parish, Norristown. “I find Father Whittingham to be compassionate, hard working, and witty, added Monsignor Conway. “He's a man of prayer and intelligence. I'm looking forward to having him as part of the pastoral team of Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Parish.”

When asked what aspect of his new assignment most interests him, Father Whittingham said, “I am particularly interested in working with young adults and young families. Husbands and wives in their 20s and 30s especially. It seems as if the Catholic Church is losing this demographic and they infrequently return to the church. I am anxious to see what I can do in this particular area,” concluded Whittingham.

Under the patronage of Mary, Mother of the Redeemer, the growing faith community is centered on the Eucharist and dedicated to worshiping God, our Heavenly Father. Through Christian hospitality, spiritual nurturing, evangelical outreach, and shared social experience, each parishioner is called to share their talents in addressing the needs of our parish and society at large. We implore the Holy Spirit to consecrate each of us in this mission.

For more information on Father Whittingham’s arrival at MMR, call (215) 362-7400.

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