PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Paul Snatchko
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NEW YORK _ The Paulist Fathers, a missionary society of Catholic priests, today announces the society’s intent to return pastoral care of Newman Hall – Holy Spirit Parish in Berkeley, CA, to the Diocese of Oakland at the end of the current academic year, as well as other upcoming ministerial changes.

Paulist Fathers have served the Catholic campus ministry at the University of California at Berkeley since 1907.

“It is with sadness that we will complete our ministry with the wonderful students, faculty, administrators, staff members, and permanent community members in Berkeley after 117 years,” said Paulist Fr. René Constanza, Paulist Fathers president. “We pray in thanksgiving to God for our long and fruitful ministry with these faithful People of God.”

“We are responding to where we believe the Holy Spirit is calling us to serve, considering the changing landscape of the Catholic Church in the United States and the shifting demographics of our own members,” said Fr. Constanza, noting that the Paulist leadership has engaged in a comprehensive discernment process that included seeking the advice of external lay professionals.

“The Paulists will miss the Berkeley community deeply,” said Paulist Fr. Ivan Tou, pastor of Newman Hall – Holy Spirit Parish. “We have been so blessed by their faithfulness, friendship, and participation. Their ownership and leadership of the faith, resulting in many vibrant lay-led ministries, has given us great hope for the future of the Church. They will always be in our hearts and prayers.”

The Paulist presence at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY, also will conclude in the coming months. Paulist Fr. Larry Rice has served since 2021 as campus chaplain at RPI, where he also led Christ, Sun of Justice Parish. At the end of the academic year, Fr. Rice will move to a new assignment.

“I have loved serving for the past three years at RPI,” said Fr. Rice. “It has been a unique opportunity to serve as part of Rensselaer’s Division of Student Life, serving the entire university community, and supported by the Rensselaer Newman Foundation. I am very grateful for the RPI students, faculty, administrators, staff members, and community members who have contributed so much to growing the ministry here.”

The Paulist Fathers also today announce that three of the worshiping communities served by the society will transition from a model of being staffed by two full-time, active Paulist priests to being served by one full-time priest, assisted by local Paulists in senior ministry. These communities are Immaculate Conception Church in Knoxville, TN, Old St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco, CA, and the Paulist Center in Boston, MA.

Additionally, the Paulist Fathers announce the upcoming completion of the work for three of the society’s longtime national offices: Paulist Evangelization Ministries; Landings International, a reconciliation ministry with Catholics returning to the Church after a time away; and the Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations. By the end of 2024, these ministries will cease operations as distinct apostolic endeavors of the Paulist Fathers. 

“These three ministries began as a response to the signs of the times in 1970s and 1980s with the establishment of national offices that served the Church well for decades,” said Fr. Constanza. “We underscore that these three key parts of our mission will continue, and many of the particular programs and offerings created by these national offices will remain available through other means.”

Fr. Constanza added, “Our three flagship media ministries, Paulist Press, Paulist Productions, and Busted Halo, will continue to be key expressions of our mission to the United States and around the world.”

“At Paulist Productions and Busted Halo, Paulist priests will remain in leadership roles. At Paulist Press, we will conduct a national search for a new leader to serve as President / Publisher to carry forward the vision and legacy of our founder, Servant of God Isaac Hecker, who began our publishing arm in 1865,” he said.

“The Paulist Fathers remain committed to sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with missionary zeal, especially with people beyond the Church walls and with Catholics who feel apart from the Church,” said Fr. Constanza. “Rooted in hopefulness, we trust that the Holy Spirit is actively breathing life into all things.”

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