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 Tomexperienced 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.”
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."
Father Kevin Smith is a Franciscan TOR from Florida. He has a passion for teaching and evangelization. Father Kevin professed his solemn vows with the TORs and was ordained a deacon in 2023 and was ordained a priest in June 2024.
Ministry and Education: Father Kevin entered the TORs in 2017 after graduating from college and working for a year. Father Kevin has worked in ministry doing catechesis, service to the poor with the Missionaries of Charity, teaching at St. Francis University, and working in Student Engagement at St. Francis University. Father Kevin will be finishing up his studies at Catholic University in DC while also helping out at St. Joseph's.
Faith Journey: Growing up, I did not enjoy going to Mass and thought of my faith as a chore and an obligation. At a very impactful retreat during high school, I encountered God and His love for me which led me to see the Catholic faith less as an imposed obligation, but more as the key to all of life's major questions. I continued to grow in my faith and be challenged by a fantastic college campus ministry at Florida State and eventually was inspired to give my life totally to God in the Franciscans.
Inspirational Bible verse: "You my child shall be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His way, to give His people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins." Luke 1:76-77