Rev. Kevin Gillespie, S.J. (Monsignor Bonner Class of 1968) is a Jesuit priest who for the past ten years has served as the pastor of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Georgetown. Prior to this ministry, from 2012-2015 Father served as the 27th president of Saint Joseph's University.
For much of his Jesuit life, he has been involved in higher education, especially teaching and publishing in Graduate programs in pastoral counseling. His research has involved areas pertaining to Catholicism and psychology; counseling and spirituality; post-traumatic growth and transcendence. Moreover, his academic ministry led him to provide programs nationally and internationally.
The first answer was a personal reflection: How did your Catholic education shape your vocation? There was no hesitation in Father’s reply. He started by saying that one of the portraits (Father Al Smith) he could see on the wall behind me (as we sat in the Alumni Conference Center) helped him as he considered a vocation to the priesthood. He explained that in his senior year, there was a five-minute Communion service before lunch periods. This fostered appreciation for the Eucharist. He noted that he spent many days in Father Smith’s presence in the chapel.
That thought led Father to remember other priests in the school at the time, all of whom helped him to consider his vocation. Father Deegan taught an advanced course in discussing issues on justice. Father Hennigan led conversations about the Viet Nam war. Teachers like Mr. Richard Bulley, Mr. Ralph Celedonio, and Mr. Vince Donohue also influenced his thinking. In his junior year at Bonner, he found he found Father Tomasula’s class in Moral Theology enjoyable and inspiring. All these experiences proved to be formative and helped him to consider a religious vocation.
Father Gillespie considered entering the Augustinians after graduating from high school. During his senior year, however, he spoke with Father Melton who advised him to wait and experience college before making such a decision. He followed Fr. Melton’s wise advice and after receiving a college degree from St. Joseph’s College and a graduate degree from Duquesne, he entered the Jesuits in 1975.
Naturally, there were other impacts on Father’s decision-making process. He described how many classes influenced him in his ability to make decisions. Much of his growing confidence came from his teachers in math and science whose methods taught him and his fellow students how to organize his ideas and express them coherently. These classes included Mr. Coll’s class in Biology in sophomore year; in junior year Mr. Madden’s class in Chemistry; and in senior year Fr. Jackson’s class in Physics.
In so many ways his education at Bonner encouraged him to value ways of thinking, writing and believing. In these ways teachers promoted the value “To Know Thyself” which embodies Augustinian pedagogy and is engraved on the Bonner ring: Nocee te ipsum (Know thyself).
When asked to share some insights on his ministry, some rewarding aspects and some challenges of his vocation, Father replied that there were many such moments. He spoke about saying the Mass, preaching, experiencing the power of the Eucharist and assisting youths such as he was once at Bonner.
As our time grew short, Father mentioned that he maintains ties with some of former classmates. He also noted his education at Bonner planted the spiritual seeds that over the decades have borne fruit in his ministry.
Again, Father mentioned the importance of that devotion to the Eucharist, the influence of Father Smith and others. He is in touch with some of his former classmates and of course he stays in touch with family including two brothers who graduated from Bonner and two of his sisters who are proud graduates of Prendie.
Father Gillespie, thank you for sharing your time with us.
Interviewed by Linda Liberi Toner APHS Class of 1968