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 Fr.
Pat was born in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, Ireland, in 1951,
the third oldest of six children; his family immigrated
to Rochester, New York when he was seven. During his
first year of college the Vietnam War brought about a change
in his life. He decided to enlist in the United States Air
Force in 1971.
He completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base,
Texas, and served at Griffiss Air Force Base (New York),
briefly at Aviano Air Base, Italy, and served mainly with
the 81st Security Police Squadron, at Royal Air Force
Base Bentwaters, in Ipswich, England. His division was awarded
the best in Europe during his tour of duty. He considered
the priesthood during his military service with the help
of a base chaplain and joined the seminary once he left
the military.
Fr. Pat entered the Order of the Most Holy Trinity (Trinitarians)
in Baltimore, in 1976. He studied philosophy at St. Mary's
Seminary (Baltimore) and theology at the Washington Theological
Union, receiving a Masters of Divinity. He was ordained
a deacon in May, 1981, and a priest on September 19, 1981.
He was sent to Toronto, Canada, immediately and then three
years following he made a decision to join the diocesan
priesthood for Toronto. Fr. Pat has served as an associate
pastor at St. Anne's Parish (Brampton), Transfiguration
of Our Lord (Etobicoke), St. Timothy's Parish (North York),
St. Patrick's Parish (Markham).
In 1989, Fr. Pat, at the request of Cardinal Carter, conducted
a study on Youth Ministry for the Archdiocese which resulted
in the establishment of the Office of Catholic Youth. Cardinal
Ambrozic appointed him Director of Vocations for the Toronto
Archdiocese and Rector of Serra House, in 1991. During his
time at Serra House, he established the "Called By Name"
program and also coordinated the Toronto pilgrimage to World
Youth Day, Denver, in 1993. In the Year 2000, he was appointed
Pastor and Director of the Newman Centre at the University
of Toronto, where he currently continues to serve.
Among his other duties, Fr. Pat serves on the board of directors
for both the Office of Catholic Youth and Redemptoris Mater
Seminary. He was appointed by Cardinal Ambrozic to the College
of Consulters for the Archdiocese and is currently the Vice-Chair
of the Council of Priests. Fr. Pat continues to serve
as chaplain to the downtown Serra Club, a position he began
as Vocation Director. More recently, he celebrated his 25th
anniversary of priesthood (September 19, 2006).
Fr. Pat loves his ministry as a priest and enjoys working
with youth and adults at the University of Toronto. Working
with a campus ministry team he has enjoyed seeing many young
people embrace future careers and vocations, to include
priesthood, religious life, and marriage. In the Summer
of 2006, Fr. Pat began his 7th year at Newman Centre.
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