Michael Paul to retire as dean

Added Tuesday 22 April 2008 :: Category: International :: 1 Comment »

Fr. Michael Paul Gallagher SJ will retire as dean of the theology faculty in the Gregorian University in Rome this summer. Last Friday it was announced that Fr. Donath Hercsik of the German Province will succeed Michael Paul as dean from September 2008. See below for Michael Paul’s reflection on his time as dean. [Photo shows Michael Paul Gallagher in the dean’s office in the Gregorian reading an Irish doctoral thesis].
Michael Paul writes:

“My appointment as dean of theology in 2005 was a total surprise, caused by the sudden death of Fr John O’Donnell (an American Jesuit well known in Ireland). In recent weeks I have been hoping and even gently campaigning to finish after three years., since my age (68 at present) prevents me from doing another three-year term. So I am delighted to let go and to return to being an ordinary professor of fundamental theology. In fact I have continued with the normal teaching load during these years.

Here at the Gregorian we have probably the largest theology faculty in the Catholic world, with about 1300 students. I could not have survived without two terrific secretaries, and a good system of delegated responsibilities for various departments. For instance Donath Hercsik, who now takes over, has been the moderator for all the undergraduate cycle. A lot of my own administrative work has been involved with doctoral students, of whom we have about 80 new arrivals every year. I have also been in charge of the licentiate for fundamental theology.

These three years have been a challenge, tough and yet rewarding. I had never before in my Jesuit life had to face so much daily complexity. Apart from dealing with the usual faculty organization (programmes, finances, appointments, commissions, meetings), each day brought surprises: a professor who might want time off for research, a student in difficulty over personal problems, questions about admission to various courses, adapting the Bologna process to our situation, emails from all over the world, visits from bishops or seminary rectors, invitations to conferences or to rather lengthy if pleasant dinners in Roman colleges.  The list could go on. There was often a pastoral dimension to the work, in the sense of encouraging people at various levels. There was also a diplomatic dimension in dealing with authorities, with other faculties and other universities. As time went on I have got more used to the pressures and to making decisions, but I am glad at my stage of life to say goodbye to the inevitable stress involved in this particular form of serving the Lord.

Have I any regrets? Of course yes. Not regrets about finishing as dean, but about sins of omission. There is always the danger of getting kidnapped in pragmatic urgencies and postponing what is really important. I would have liked to devote more time to pondering the future with other faculty members. The students are great and many of them are passionate about serving the faith. The professors are very cooperative but often overworked. We are one of the most famous and influential Jesuit institutions in the world. We need to find more quality time to see where we are going and how to meet the changing culture around us. “