Meet the Friars
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Father Tom Bourque is a Franciscan TOR and a proud native of Massachusetts. He has a passion for prayer, ministry and teaching. Father Tom professed his solemn vows in 1981 and was ordained a priest in 1982.
Ministry and Education: Entered the community in 1976. Earned Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Salem State University (MA); Masters of Divinity from St. Michael University and Toronto School of Theology (Toronto, Canada); Masters of Sacred Theology in Pastoral Theology from Regis College (Toronto, Canada); Masters of Arts in Educational Administration from Villanova University (PA); and a Doctorate in Education from University of San Francisco in Catholic Leadership and Private Education Administration (CA). His ministries have included parochial ministry as a deacon and parochial vicar St. Martha Catholic Church (Miami, FL); high school chaplaincy and teaching at Bishop Egan High School (Fairless Hills, PA); Assistant Professor of Religious Studies and Pastoral Ministry at Saint Francis University (PA); Director of Continuing Education and Professor of Religious Studies at Saint Francis University (PA); Provost and Executive Vice President at Franciscan University of Steubenville (FUS); Director of Formation, Local Minister and Vicar Provincial (Washington, DC); Professor of Religious Studies at Saint Francis University (PA) and Professor of Higher Education at Capella University (MN); Local Minister of Queen of Peace Friary and Director of Planning and Mission Effectiveness for the Province (PA); and parochial vicar and pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church (VA).
Faith Journey: Father Tom experienced a humbling conversion during his senior year of university. While discerning what path to take after graduation, he encountered the importance of Christ in his life during an Advent Penance Service. During two of his numerous Franciscan pilgrimages to Assisi/Rome, he was blessed to visit the tomb of Saint John XXIII and experienced a faith-filled pilgrimage in the “spirit” of Saint Padre Pio with a brother friar at San Giovanni Rotondo (Italy).
Inspirational Bible Verse: Romans 8:26: “…the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.”
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Father Matt Russick is a Franciscan TOR and a proud native of Michigan. He has a passion for preaching and teaching and loves to worship God. Father Matt professed his solemn vows in 2008 and was ordained a priest in 2009. Father Matt recently completed his ministry at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
Years of service: Entered the community in 2002. Earned Masters of Divinity and Master of Arts in Theology (Spirituality) from the Washington Theological Union (DC). His ministries have included high school teaching at Bishop Carroll Catholic in Ebensburg, PA; coaching track and football; starting & leading a peer ministry group called Works in Progress; Parochial Ministry as a deacon and parochial vicar St. Joseph Catholic Church, Herndon, VA; Franciscan University of Steubenville (FUS). Father Matt recently completed his ministry at FUS in the Office of Evangelization and Household Life.
Faith Journey: Experienced a profound conversion while a student at Hope College in Holland, MI. While attending the Urbana Missions Conference at the University of Illinois after Christmas in 1996, he encountered the living God in a powerful way that set him on a new trajectory in life! In June 2021, he was blessed to experience The Way of St. James - El Camino Pilgrimage to Spain.
Inspirational Bible Verse: Matthew 6:33: "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides."
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Father Mike grew up in Framingham, MA and lived in many other locations as a child of a Navy family. He entered the Franciscans in 1978 and professed his solemn vows in 1984. Father Mike was ordained to the priesthood on June 1, 1985 by the Most Reverend George Pearce, S.M. D.D., Emeritus Archbishop of Suva (Fiji Islands).
Since his ordination, Father Mike has taught and ministered at our two universities, served as Director of Novices, lived in Rome as the Vicar General and then Minister General of the Order, president of Franciscan School of Theology (CA) and recently as the pastor of Good Shepherd Catholic Community in TX.
Father Mike was recently elected the Vicar Provincial of our Province and will begin full-time ministry in the Office of the Minister Provincial in Loretto, PA.
I know you will embrace him, just as you have embraced all the priests and friars who have passed through our parish on their spiritual journeys. Father Matt and I are happy to have him join us in our parish ministry as brother Franciscan, priest and co-worker. You will get to learn more about Father Mike as he ministers here at the parish the next few months. Welcome, Father Mike!
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