Biography: Rev. James Bowler, S.J.
University Facilitator for Catholic and Jesuit Mission and Identity

jbowler@mail.fairfield.edu

The Rev. James Bowler, S.J., is a central resource at Fairfield University for faculty and staff who desire to ground their work in the basic vision and history of the Jesuit educational tradition.

In seeking to preserve and strengthen Fairfield's defining characteristics, Fr. Bowler actively raises to conscious a mission which, for 450 years, has sought: 1) to integrate the intellectual and spiritual, and 2) to instill an awareness that academic achievement brings with it a responsibility to serve.

Fr. Bowler provides opportunities for professional staff and faculty to share with one another the spiritual meaning they find in their careers; works with and foster communication among those engaged in service-learning across the curriculum; and continues making available ongoing opportunities for Ignatian retreats and individual spiritual direction.

Additionally, Fr. Bowler serves as a resource to the University president, vice presidents, and trustees regarding Fairfield's Catholic and Jesuit mission and identity.

Fr. Bowler earned his BA at St. John's Seminary, an MA from Boston College, a Ph.L. and M.Div. from Weston School of Theology. He completed doctoral studies in education at Boston University. He subsequently studied at Harvard Divinity School, is certified in clinical pastoral education, and attended three extended institutes at the C.J. Jung Institute in Zurich.

Professionally, he taught at Fairfield Prep from 1967 to 1969, and later as the school's headmaster. In between, he worked for the Massachusetts Department of Education and as Director of Planning and Secondary Education for the Jesuits' New England Province. For the past 25 years, he has focused his ministry on spiritual direction as director of the Campion Renewal Center, executive director of the National Jesuit Retreat and Renewal Ministries, as a fellow at Emory University's Center for Research in Faith and Moral Development, and as a staff member at the Guelph Center of Spirituality in Ontario, where he was responsible for training and supervising spiritual directors in the Ignatian tradition.

Contact:
Colleen Gilbertson
(203) 254-4000, ext. 3468
cgilbertson@mail.fairfield.edu