Jesuit Collaborative

June 19, 2009 – James Shea, S.J., Maryland Provincial, David Ciancimino, S.J., New York Provincial, and Thomas Regan, S.J., New England Provincial, and the Board of Directors of The Jesuit Collaborative, Inc., are pleased to announce that James R. Conroy, S.J., has been named the new executive director of The Jesuit Collaborative. Fr. Conroy will succeed Ron Mercier, S.J., who led The Jesuit Collaborative during its first three years. Fr. Conroy will begin on August 1, 2009.

Fr. Conroy, a native of Pittsburgh and a member of the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus, currently works in directing the Spiritual Exercises in Pittsburgh. Fr. Conroy has extensive experience with Ignatian spirituality in varied settings. Throughout his career as a teacher, parish priest, in Jesuit formation, and retreat director he has led over 150 bishops, priests, religious, and lay men and women through the Spiritual Exercises. He served as Novice Director of the Maryland province of the Society of Jesus, co-founder and executive director of the Ignatian Volunteers Corps and as rector of the Gonzaga Jesuit Community in Washington, D.C. Fr. Conroy attended John Carroll University, Cleveland and Fordham University, New York, and he has studied Ignatian spirituality at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California; he holds a master of divinity degree from Loyola University of Chicago.

“Fr. Conroy is extraordinarily well prepared to lead The Jesuit Collaborative. His life’s work aligns directly with our mission of fostering the ministry of the Spiritual Exercises across the three provinces – training, formation, community-building, and extending the Exercises to more people, particularly under-served populations. We are fortunate to have him and grateful for his commitment to serve,” said John Lively, chairman of the board.

The Jesuit Collaborative is a professional association of Jesuits, laypersons, clergy, and religious who share in common the spiritual tradition of St. Ignatius. The Collaborative promotes networking, reflection, scholarship, and learning while coordinating the diverse ministries that derive from the Spiritual Exercises. The Collaborative is pledged to serve the Church by providing for the spiritual development and care of persons, forming leaders, and nurturing a faith that does justice.

For more information, please visit: www.jesuit-collaborative.org ; or contact: Bob Cunningham at rcunningham@sjnen.org, or call 617-607-2851