Fairfield University alumnus named to lead Campus Ministry efforts

Fairfield University alumnus named to lead Campus Ministry efforts

Image: Michael J. Doody Rev. Michael J. Doody, S.J., a member of the Fairfield University class of 1970, is returning to the institution as the new Director of Campus Ministry, University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., announced today. Father Doody is the former Director of Campus Ministry at Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Mo. where he ministered to a community of 11,000 students and 3,500 faculty and staff.

Father Doody, who will begin work on June 19, replaces Rev. Paul Carrier, S.J., who has served Fairfield and its extended family for 20 years. Fr. Carrier will begin a yearlong sabbatical on July 1, in anticipation of assignment to a new ministry afterward.

In making the appointment, Fr. von Arx expressed great pleasure that Father Doody had accepted the position. "We sought a Jesuit with campus ministry experience who could hit the ground running and who had a successful track record, growing an Office of Campus Ministry and building program offerings for students and the greater University community," Fr. von Arx said. "Michael Doody was very popular with students at Saint Louis University; he received high praise from those with whom he met during our search process; and his previous successes were confirmed by others with whom we consulted before extending an offer," Fr. von Arx said. "I am confident that under the leadership of Father Doody we may look forward to building on our successful Campus Ministry program."

Fr. Doody, commenting on his appointment, said, "I am overjoyed at the prospect of returning to my alma mater as Director of Campus Ministry.  It was at Fairfield that my call to follow the Lord in the Society of Jesus became clear to me.

"My vocation was nurtured by the great Jesuits - a few of them still here - and the deeply committed and involved lay staff who were on the campus in my undergraduate years. I feel like I am returning to a very special home. I am looking forward to putting my talents, my energy and my priesthood at the service of the students, sharing experiences of word and sacrament, prayer, service and reflection. Students may expect to find me in the Pedro Arrupe, S.J., Campus Ministry Center and Egan Chapel; equally, they should expect to find me in the cafeteria and residence halls and at the rugby and basketball games," he continued.

At St. Louis University, Fr. Doody lived in a student residence hall and he plans to do so at Fairfield. While there he served as Chaplain and moderator to a number of student groups: a residence hall of 1,000 freshmen, the rugby team, the Irish American Club and the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. He was a liaison with Campus Judicial Affairs, Student Life, Student Health and Counseling and Residence Life, a member of the University Retention Committee and served on the Advisory Board for Service Leadership Program for the John Cook School of Business and as a member of the Catholic Studies Program advisory committee. Fr. Doody was given The Mary A. Bruemmer Award presented by the student government association to a member of the Saint Louis University community for outstanding service to student life outside of the classroom.

A profile article in the April 2000 issue of the national Jesuit magazine, Company , said of Fr. Doody, "He draws students to retreats and service programs in staggering numbers." In that same article, Father Doody said of Campus Ministry at Saint Louis University, "We address students where they are ... Our homilies are about relationships and how to find God in a busy student world."

Prior to joining the Saint Louis University community, Fr. Doody was Director of Development at Bishop Connolly High School, Fall River, Mass., from 1987 to 1989 and served as Director of Development and Director of Continuing Education Residence for Priests at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology, Cambridge, Mass.

From 1978 to 1981 he was Associate Pastor and Business Manager at Holy Trinity Parish, Washington, DC. His earlier positions include adjunct lecturer at the Boston College School of Management, and English and Theology Teacher at St. George's College, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies. His pastoral experience includes serving as Pastoral Associate during summer assignments at St. John's Church, Mossblown, Scotland; St. Paul's Church, Ayr, Scotland; St. Francis deSales Church, London, England, and at St. Cartha's Church, Kilcar, Donegal, Republic of Ireland.

Fr. Doody is a native of Oyster Bay, Long Island, NY, and attended St. Dominic High School there. He received a B.A. in Philosophy from Fairfield University in 1970; a Master in Business Administration from Boston College and a Master of Divinity from Weston Jesuit School of Theology. He entered the New England Province of the Society of Jesus in 1968 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1978.

Fr. von Arx thanked members of the committee who assisted with the search, as well as the Campus Ministry Council members and others who were participants in the process. The search committee was comprised of the following individuals: George Diffley, Vice President for University Advancement, chair; Jessica DiBuono '06, 2005-06 President of the Fairfield University Student Association; Rev. Frank Hannafey, S.J., Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies; Ms. Talia Pettini '06, Co-President of the Campus Ministry Council; Melissa Quan, presently Assistant Chaplain and Director of Community Service; and John Santa, a member of the chapel worshipping community.

Fr. von Arx indicated that Fr. Doody would, even prior to his arrival on campus, begin efforts to become more acquainted with Campus Ministry and will initiate a process to review candidates for current staff vacancies. A campus event to welcome Fr. Doody is being planned.

Posted On: 05-26-2006 10:05 AM

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