Joseph Fessio

Joseph Fessio, (born January 10, 1941) is a Roman Catholic priest of the Jesuit order and the founder and editor of Ignatius Press. He was the founding provost of Ave Maria University until March 2007.

Education

Joseph Fessio attended high school at Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose, California, from 1954 to 1958. Before entering the Jesuit novitiate in 1961, he completed undergraduate studies in Civil Engineering at the University of Santa Clara, California. He entered the novitiate on September 7, 1961. Before his ordainment as a Roman Catholic priest, he earned a B.A (in 1966) and an M.A. (in 1967) in Philosophy from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. He was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest on June 10, 1972. By that time, he had also earned an M.A in Theology from his studies in Lyons, France.

In 1975, he earned his doctorate in Theology from the University of Regensburg, West Germany. His thesis director was Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI. The subject of his thesis was "The Ecclesiology of Hans Urs von Balthasar".

Teaching and administrative experience

* 1966 - 1967 Taught Philosophy at Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington
* 1967 - 1969 Taught Philosophy at University of Santa Clara, California. Co-founder Director of Project 50.
* 1974 - Taught Systematic and Spiritual Theology, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California
* 1976 - Founded the St. Ignatius Institute, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California
* 1978 - Founder and Editor, Ignatius Press
* 1979 - Director, Religious Books on Tape, Audio Division of Ignatius Press
* 1987 - Fired from his position as Director, St. Ignatius Institute, the University of San Francisco, by Father President, John LoSchiavo, S.J., in a dispute over management of a $1,000,000 donation. [Don Lattin, [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/03/28/MNW159845.DTL "Pope's help sought in theology class at USF/School protests over orthodox institute"] , "San Francisco Chronicle" (Mar. 28, 2001)]
* 1987 - Peritus at Seventh Ordinary General Assembly of Bishops, at the Vatican, and delivers paper arguing that girls and women be excluded from the offices of Altar Server and Lector at Mass in the Catholic Church [J. Fessio, S.J., "Admittance of Women to Service at the Altar as Acolytes and Lectors," in "Fellowship of Catholic Scholars Newsletter" 11:2 (March 1988) pp. 14-16]
* 1988 - 1991 Editor, 30 Days, In the Church and the World 1991 - Publisher, The Catholic World Report
* 1995 - Publisher, Catholic Dossier, Catholic Faith, Homiletic & Pastoral Review
* 1995 - Co-Founder, Adoremus: Society for the Renewal of the Sacred Liturgy
* 1998 - Founded the Catholic Radio Network
* 2002 - Founded Campion College of San Francisco and exiled from San Francisco by Jesuit Order, although retains leadership of Ignatius Press [Christopher Zehnder, [http://www.sffaith.com/ed/articles/2002/0502cz.htm "Fessio Exiled: Jesuits Shun Invitation to Support New College"] , "San Francisco Faith", 2002]
* 2002 - Chancellor, later provost, Ave Maria University
* 2007 - Fired from his position as provost of Ave Maria University. The reason given publicly was "irreconcilable differences over administrative policies and practices". He was reinstated as a theologian in residence the next day and remains an ardent supporter of the university. [http://soberinebriation.blogspot.com/2008/02/interview-with-fr-joseph-fessio-sj.html "Interview with Fr. Joseph Fessio S.J."] Sober Inebriation, February 2008

References

External links

* [http://www.naples.avemaria.edu/ Ave Maria University]
* [http://www.ignatius.com/ Ignatius Press]
* [http://www.gloria.tv/?video=aqizdq1bchuky4nxxljc Video: Father Fessio on the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum]