coMMunity
The Valley Catholic
Father Paul J. Fitzgerald, SJ
named USF’s 28th president
The University of San Francisco’s
Board of Trustees voted unanimously
to elect Father Paul J. Fitzgerald, SJ USF’s
28th president, April 8. He will take office Aug. 1.
Father Fitzgerald has worked in
higher education for more than 20 years,
and is currently Senior Vice President
for Academic Affairs at Fairfield University in Connecticut, where he oversees
recruitment and retention of faculty,
develops curriculum, and works with
deans to direct academic programs.
During 12 years at Santa Clara University, Father Fitzgerald was associate
dean and senior associate dean for the
College of Arts and Sciences. He also
served on several university boards,
including the Ecclesiastical Board of
the School of Theology and Ministry at
Boston College, the Board of Trustees
of Loyola University Chicago, and the
Board of Trustees of Loyola Marymount
University in Los
Angeles.
“USF has an impressive legac y,”
Father Fitzgerald
said. “The chance
to contribute to this
environment of learning and service is
a true honor.”
Fitzgerald grew up in Los Gatos,
earned a bachelor’s degree in history
from Santa Clara University in 1980, and
entered the Society of Jesus two years
later. He was ordained to the priesthood
at St. Ignatius Church, San Francisco,
in 1992.
He succeeds Father Stephen A.
Privett, SJ, who has served as USF’s
president from 2000 to 2014–making
him the third longest serving president
in university history. He will stay in office until Father Fitzgerald is settled in
San Francisco.
Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose
break ground for new building
The Dominican Sisters of Mission
San Jose selected March 19, the Feast
of St. Joseph, patron of workers, for a
groundbreaking celebration at their Fremont Motherhouse headquarters. The
$20 million project includes construction of a 36-unit Sisters’ residence and
Community & Wellness Center.
Renovations to their Siena building
will prepare space for daytime memory
care, operated by ASEB (Alzheimer’s
Services of the East Bay). This first
dementia-specific program in Fremont
will open its doors after renovations are
complete in September 2014.
Adult memory care services respond
to a growing need – one City of Fremont
officials affirmed with a Community
Development Block Grant ($310,000)
toward Siena renovation costs. The
Dominican ASEB program will serve
diverse adults, veterans and low income
families.
The Sisters purchased the 26-acre
campus in 1891. The dormitory-style St.
Joseph Priory was demolished in February, with 99.4 percent of the building’s
materials recycled. The project will be
LEED certified, honoring the Sisters’
commitment to “care of creation” and
environmental sustainability.
Congregational Prioress Sister Gloria
Marie Jones, OP said, “Today we celebrate the beginning of a new chapter
in our story, an expanding Motherhouse
vision that creates space to meet wider
community needs