Thomas Lawrence Noa
Thomas Lawrence Noa was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Marquette from 1947 to 1968.Biography
One of nine children, Thomas Noa was born in Iron Mountain, Michigan, to John and Magdalene Noa. He attended St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from 1907 to 1911, and continued his studies at the College of the Propaganda in Rome, where he earned a Doctor of Sacred Theology degree in 1917. While in Rome, he was ordained to the priesthood on December 23, 1916. Following his return to Michigan, he served as a professor and rector at St. Joseph Seminary in Grand Rapids. He was named a Domestic Prelate by Pope Pius XI in 1935.
On February 22, 1946, Noa was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Sioux City, Iowa, and Titular Bishop of Salona by Pope Pius XII. He received his episcopal consecration on the following March 19 from Cardinal Edward Mooney, with Bishops Charles Daniel White and Joseph H. Albers serving as co-consecrators. Following the death of Bishop Francis Joseph Magner, Noa was named the eighth Bishop of Marquette on August 25, 1947. He attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council between 1962 and 1965.
After twenty-one years as Bishop of Marquette, he retired on January 5, 1968; he was appointed Titular Bishop of Talaptula by Pope Paul VI on the same date. He later resigned his titular see on December 31, 1970. He died at age 84.
