Spray & Rhinelander, History of St. Thomas University: The Formative Years 1860-1990 -- page 71
CHAPTER 2 ST. MICHAEL'S BECOMES ST. THOMAS: 1902-1923 Bishop Thomas Barry James Rogers, the first Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Chatham, retired in February, 1902, at seventy-six years of age. His replacement, the second Bishop of Chatham, Fr. Thomas Francis Barry, now sixty-one, had been his close assistant for many years. B. J. Murdock, in Partway Through, described Barry as: a tall slow-moving man, with a manner seemingly cold, which his austere bearing seemed to increase. Yet he was very understanding and always weighed very deliberately, very carefully, all matters for decision. Then, when there was need for kindness, he could be very kind. He also had a sense of humour. In 1885, when Rogers had asked Barry, then his Chancellor for the diocese, to consider reopening St. Michael’s College, the latter had argued against the idea since he felt there was little hope of it succeeding at that time. Besides, as vicar-general for the diocese he had other, more pressing concerns. Yet looking through his correspondence we can see he remained deeply committed to getting St. Michael's up and running again. He had assured the bishop that he would reopen the college when he felt the time was right. In return, Rogers kept Barry well informed of his hopes and plans for their mutually treasured institution. Shortly after he accepted his bishop's mitre, Barry indeed turned his attention to the matter of reopening St. Michael's. In October, 1902, we find him appealing to the Jesuits, as Rogers had done years before in 1869. Then, after they declined yet again to come to Chatham, he approached the