Fr. Thomas Long, CSV, professed first vows as a Viatorian religious on September 8, 1962. It was just before he was ordained to the priesthood on May 17, 1969, that the events in the world during his seminary years became searing memories. Fr. Long and his classmates were studying at the Viatorian seminary in 1968 in Washington DC, when fires and riots broke out after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. “We were firsthand witnesses to the deep divide in our country,” Fr. Long says – this cemented what has become a lifelong commitment to social justice.
Fr. Dan Hall, right, presents Fr. Tom Long with his jubilarian gift.
Fr. Long taught at Bishop McNamara and Alleman High Schools before going into parish work. First, he was an associate pastor at St. Viator Parish in Chicago. He left Illinois in 1984 to become the founding pastor of St. Thomas More Catholic Community in Henderson, NV for its first nine years.
In 1994, Fr. Long earned his master’s degree in social work and spent the next nine years in California working with members of the HIV/AIDS community, working with people experiencing homelessness, and administering a recovery program.
When he returned to Illinois in 2003, Fr. Long became involved in the Viatorians’ communications efforts. He has served as the editor of Viatorian publications ever since.
Fr. Tom Long, right, attends the liturgy that celebrated 35 years of Viatorian ministry at St. Thomas More.
Outside of the Province Center, he also serves in several social justice initiatives, mostly dedicated to accompanying immigrants and working toward immigration reform. For example, Fr. Long frequently drives 60 miles from his home in Chicago to Kankakee to pray with detained immigrants at the Jerome Combs Detention Center before they are deported later that day.
More on Fr. Long from Viatorians.com:
- Public Witness for Immigrants with Viatorians and Partners (Viatorian Voices podcast appearance – 2025): Fr. Long, as well as other Viatorians and partners from the community, offered reflections on our podcast as they took part in a monthly public witness in support of immigrants in the US.
- FEATURE – Public Witness: Showing What We Stand For (2025): Fr. Long shared some integral thoughts on the important of public witness in support and advocacy of people on the margins and key issues for them.
- Oh Happy Day, Newest Viatorian Priest Ordained (2024): Fr. Long was the pastor of St. Thomas More when John Eustice, now a Viatorian priest, was a teenaged parishioner. Fr. Long took part in the ordination and helped vest John.
- Viatorian Faith in Action (Viatorian Voices podcast appearance – 2021): Fr. Long and Br. Michael Gosch, CSV took part in a roundtable at a young adult event to describe their Viatorian faith as it seeks to live out service and justice in the world.
- Viatorians Take Part in Protest Outside ICE Detention Center (2019): Fr. Long joined Br. Michael Gosch, CSV at a demonstration to protest widespread and expanding detention of immigrants and sometimes inhumane treatment.
- Viatorians Celebrate Years with St. Thomas More (2019): Fr. Long returned to Henderson, Nevada, for a special Mass as the Viatorians transferred administration of St. Thomas More to the diocese.
- Viatorian Priest Showcased for Commitment to Empowering Latinos (2015): Fr. Long was recognized for his volunteer work in support of and advocacy for Latinos in Chicagoland.
Updated August 12, 2025 by Associate Dan Masterton.