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Pastoral
Team
Click
on the staff names below for pictures and bios.
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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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Fr. Patrick O'Dea,
Pastor & Executive Director
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Patrick Douglas,
Business Manager / Chaplaincy Coordinator
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Joan Hogan,
Secretary/Receptionist
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Peter Baltutis,
Director of Outreach Ministries
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Fatima Martins,
Housekeeper
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Peggy Li,
Student Campus Ministry Representative |
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Karen D'Aoust,
Resident Cook
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José Gonzales,
Facilities and Events Manager
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