Thomas J. Beckman was born in New York City on June 3, 1949 the fourth of four children born of Henry and Rose Beckman.
Father Beckman attended St. John's University, Jamaica Queens, N.Y. for a short period of time but decided to enter the military and began his service in the US Navy. Father Beckman was honorably discharged from the Navy in April of 1971, and moved to San Diego eventually attended Grossmont College, El Cajon, CA with an emphasis on education and religious studies and graduated (cum laude) and then continued his education in Religious Studies at San Diego State University and completed his Masters Degree in Education/Counseling at San Diego State University while continuing his secular work and was introduced to Independent Catholicism. He studied theology and liturgy under the mentorship of the local bishop and was ordained deacon and later was ordained to the Priesthood in the Old Catholic Tradition.
Father Beckman focused his ministry on healing and proclaiming the reality of the God of love proclaimed in the Christian Scriptures; taking the church into the community, serving an undeserved population. Those marginalized, often discarded, persons that most mainstream organizations could not or would not serve.
With permission from his Ordinary, the Most Reverend Rainer Laufers, Presiding Archbishop of the Old Holy Catholic Church based in Canada, Father Beckman was assigned to work with The Most Reverend Thomas E. Abel, DD for the American Catholic Church Diocese of California. In November, 2007, Father Beckman, Priest in Residence, went on Medical Leave of Absence.
Fr. Tom, as he was affectionately known in our Dignity Community, served as a presider and homilist from the mid 1990's until a few years ago when health issues made it impossible for him to walk or stand for any length of time. Fr. Tom worked as a counselor at several social service agencies in the area, including Fr. Joe's Villages.
Tom and Ralph Mann, his partner of 40 years, lived in North Park, San Diego. Tom lamented that he missed presiding at Dignity and he missed our community very much. Fr. Tom died Tuesday, August 4, 2009 at his residence. He was 60 years of age.
Father Beckman attended St. John's University, Jamaica Queens, N.Y. for a short period of time but decided to enter the military and began his service in the US Navy. Father Beckman was honorably discharged from the Navy in April of 1971, and moved to San Diego eventually attended Grossmont College, El Cajon, CA with an emphasis on education and religious studies and graduated (cum laude) and then continued his education in Religious Studies at San Diego State University and completed his Masters Degree in Education/Counseling at San Diego State University while continuing his secular work and was introduced to Independent Catholicism. He studied theology and liturgy under the mentorship of the local bishop and was ordained deacon and later was ordained to the Priesthood in the Old Catholic Tradition.
Father Beckman focused his ministry on healing and proclaiming the reality of the God of love proclaimed in the Christian Scriptures; taking the church into the community, serving an undeserved population. Those marginalized, often discarded, persons that most mainstream organizations could not or would not serve.
With permission from his Ordinary, the Most Reverend Rainer Laufers, Presiding Archbishop of the Old Holy Catholic Church based in Canada, Father Beckman was assigned to work with The Most Reverend Thomas E. Abel, DD for the American Catholic Church Diocese of California. In November, 2007, Father Beckman, Priest in Residence, went on Medical Leave of Absence.
Fr. Tom, as he was affectionately known in our Dignity Community, served as a presider and homilist from the mid 1990's until a few years ago when health issues made it impossible for him to walk or stand for any length of time. Fr. Tom worked as a counselor at several social service agencies in the area, including Fr. Joe's Villages.
Tom and Ralph Mann, his partner of 40 years, lived in North Park, San Diego. Tom lamented that he missed presiding at Dignity and he missed our community very much. Fr. Tom died Tuesday, August 4, 2009 at his residence. He was 60 years of age.
Thomas J. Beckman was born in New York City on June 3, 1949 the fourth of four children born of Henry and Rose Beckman.
Father Beckman attended St. John's University, Jamaica Queens, N.Y. for a short period of time but decided to enter the military and began his service in the US Navy. Father Beckman was honorably discharged from the Navy in April of 1971, and moved to San Diego eventually attended Grossmont College, El Cajon, CA with an emphasis on education and religious studies and graduated (cum laude) and then continued his education in Religious Studies at San Diego State University and completed his Masters Degree in Education/Counseling at San Diego State University while continuing his secular work and was introduced to Independent Catholicism. He studied theology and liturgy under the mentorship of the local bishop and was ordained deacon and later was ordained to the Priesthood in the Old Catholic Tradition.
Father Beckman focused his ministry on healing and proclaiming the reality of the God of love proclaimed in the Christian Scriptures; taking the church into the community, serving an undeserved population. Those marginalized, often discarded, persons that most mainstream organizations could not or would not serve.
With permission from his Ordinary, the Most Reverend Rainer Laufers, Presiding Archbishop of the Old Holy Catholic Church based in Canada, Father Beckman was assigned to work with The Most Reverend Thomas E. Abel, DD for the American Catholic Church Diocese of California. In November, 2007, Father Beckman, Priest in Residence, went on Medical Leave of Absence.
Fr. Tom, as he was affectionately known in our Dignity Community, served as a presider and homilist from the mid 1990's until a few years ago when health issues made it impossible for him to walk or stand for any length of time. Fr. Tom worked as a counselor at several social service agencies in the area, including Fr. Joe's Villages.
Tom and Ralph Mann, his partner of 40 years, lived in North Park, San Diego. Tom lamented that he missed presiding at Dignity and he missed our community very much. Fr. Tom died Tuesday, August 4, 2009 at his residence. He was 60 years of age.
Father Beckman attended St. John's University, Jamaica Queens, N.Y. for a short period of time but decided to enter the military and began his service in the US Navy. Father Beckman was honorably discharged from the Navy in April of 1971, and moved to San Diego eventually attended Grossmont College, El Cajon, CA with an emphasis on education and religious studies and graduated (cum laude) and then continued his education in Religious Studies at San Diego State University and completed his Masters Degree in Education/Counseling at San Diego State University while continuing his secular work and was introduced to Independent Catholicism. He studied theology and liturgy under the mentorship of the local bishop and was ordained deacon and later was ordained to the Priesthood in the Old Catholic Tradition.
Father Beckman focused his ministry on healing and proclaiming the reality of the God of love proclaimed in the Christian Scriptures; taking the church into the community, serving an undeserved population. Those marginalized, often discarded, persons that most mainstream organizations could not or would not serve.
With permission from his Ordinary, the Most Reverend Rainer Laufers, Presiding Archbishop of the Old Holy Catholic Church based in Canada, Father Beckman was assigned to work with The Most Reverend Thomas E. Abel, DD for the American Catholic Church Diocese of California. In November, 2007, Father Beckman, Priest in Residence, went on Medical Leave of Absence.
Fr. Tom, as he was affectionately known in our Dignity Community, served as a presider and homilist from the mid 1990's until a few years ago when health issues made it impossible for him to walk or stand for any length of time. Fr. Tom worked as a counselor at several social service agencies in the area, including Fr. Joe's Villages.
Tom and Ralph Mann, his partner of 40 years, lived in North Park, San Diego. Tom lamented that he missed presiding at Dignity and he missed our community very much. Fr. Tom died Tuesday, August 4, 2009 at his residence. He was 60 years of age.
