Dear Tulane Catholic Center community and
friends,
Peace be
with you!
The heat
and humidity of New Orleans is more than a reminder that the summer season is
here in full force. There are other
indications as well, especially the “ghost town” atmosphere of the Tulane
campus as very few students are around this time of year. Summertime is also a time of change for both
higher education and the ministries of the Catholic Church, including personnel
changes.
Now is
no exception as effective July 1, 2014, I will no longer be the director of the
Tulane Catholic Center and Catholic chaplain.
I will be moving on to assume the position of Director of Vocations for
the St. Martin de Porres Province of the Dominican Order, which covers the
southern region of the United States. While
it was difficult to leave behind missionary service in Ecuador prior to coming
to Tulane, my three years here on campus have been a rewarding experience of
helping students, faculty, staff and community members discover the closeness
of God by deepening their sense of what it means to be Catholic.
I am
excited to announce that my successor will be another Dominican priest, Fr.
Thomas Schaefgen, O.P. For Fr. Thomas
(Tulane Class of 2006 – Architecture), coming to campus will be more like a
homecoming than a ministry assignment! He will be able to preside over the
construction of our new Tulane Catholic Center building, which, God willing,
should commence around the time fall semester 2014 gets started. Most importantly, Fr. Thomas will be able to
continue the work of bringing the richness of Christ’s presence to campus
through his priestly and sacramental ministry, leadership and carrying on the
nearly 800-year old tradition of Dominican preaching.
All
times of transition tend to be challenges.
Please remember Fr. Thomas and I in your prayers as we both set out to
begin new ministries and continue following the Lord’s path in the manner of
our holy patron St. Dominic.
God
bless,
Padre
Charlie
Fr.
Charles Johnson, O.P.
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