Father Joseph Fessio, provost at Ave Maria University, speaks at LaPlaya Beach and Gulf Club in 2004. University officials said Fessio was asked to step down as a result of "irreconcilable difference over administrative policies and practices."
Posted on 03/22/2007 5:46:03 AM PDT by NYer
The provost at Ave Maria University, once a student of the current pope, has been asked to resign his position immediately.
Provost Joseph Fessio sent an e-mail shortly after 2 p.m. today to members of the Ave Maria community, saying he’s been asked to resign and leave the campus immediately.
His brief e-mail reads:
"To the Ave Maria University community: I have been asked to resign my position as provost and leave the campus immediately.
I will miss Ave Maria and the many of you whom I hold dear.
Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J."
In a statement, university officials said Fessio was asked to step down as a result of "irreconcilable difference over administrative policies and practices."
"There has never been any difference in our commitment to our mission or to the Magisterium of the Church. Nor is there any diminishment in our commitment to maintaining the highest quality of scholarship," according to the statement.
University officials would like Fessio to serve the university in an advisory capacity in the future, according to the statement.
"We are grateful for the enormous contributions Father Fessio has made to the development of Ave Maria University, especially to the liturgical and intellectual development of the institution," it reads.
Fessio was unavailable for comment this afternoon.
A 4:30 p.m. private convocation was planned today, where students and faculty were expecting to learn more about Fessio's dismissal.
About 100 students prayed this afternoon outside the student union building, many holding rosaries. A few wept.
Many students said they were upset, especially some seniors who said they wanted to graduate with Fessio present.
"The idea of walking in May without him there is just unbearable," said Mary Jones, 27, a senior, about graduating.
Jones and many other students were demanding an explanation of why he was fired.
"The father deserves one and the student body deserves an explanation as well," she said.
Anthony Jay, 22, a student, said : "I think it's unanimous we all love Father Fessio."
Students and faculty began gathering earlier this afternoon to protest the firing at Ave Maria’s interim campus at the Vineyards in North Naples.
Ave Maria was set to open one phase of its main campus later this year. It will be the first Catholic university in the United States in 40 years.
The town of Ave Maria would be built over 25 to 30 years, and work has already started. The plans need county approval and permits from various state and federal agencies.
Multimillionaire Tom Monaghan announced the creation of Ave Maria University and town in 2002. Since then, Monaghan has guided the step-by-step process to create the town and school.
Fessio, who has been with the school since its early stages, has spoken publicly about his friendship with Pope Benedict XVI. Fessio and other priests gather every year for a few days with the pope, who has had a prominent role in Fessio’s life for many years.
As a seminary students in the 1960s, future pope Professor Joseph Ratzinger guided Fessio’s education and faith. As an adult, the pope directed Fessio to Ave Maria, after speaking with Monaghan.
The pope "is the reason I’m here," Fessio told the Naples Daily News in 2006. "He’s been a great supporter of the university."
Something nagging at me says he may have been reciprocating... but I admit I may be wrong. Give it a week or so and we'll see what the real reason is.
Father Joseph Fessio said he had no indication before today that he would be asked to step down as provost of Ave Maria University.
“Obviously, I think it was a mistake, but I am not in charge,” he said.
Fessio said he was asked to a private meeting this morning with chancellor Tom Monaghan. At the meeting, Fessio said he was asked to resign his position with the school, clear his office and leave campus by the end of the day.
“I asked for a reason but was not given one,” Fessio said.
No specific reasons were cited in an official statement released by university officials either. All calls to the university and to the development company planning the community around the fledging Catholic school were referred to the public relations department. Spokesmen for the school said no elaboration beyond the statement would be made.
The statement reads:
“Father Joseph Fessio, S.J. was asked to step down as Provost of the University as a result of irreconcilable differences over administrative policies and practices.
There has never been any difference in our commitment to our mission or to the Magisterium of the Church. Nor is there any diminishment in our commitment to maintaining the highest quality of scholarship.
We are grateful for the enormous contributions Father Fessio has made to the development of Ave Maria University, especially to the liturgical and intellectual development of the institution. We look forward to him serving the University in an advisory capacity in the future.”
Officials said it is policy that employees asked to step down depart from the institution immediately.
Fessio served both as provost and professor of theology at Ave Maria University.
In addition to his educational duties, Fessio is founder of Ignatius Press, a Catholic publishing house, and publisher of Catholic World Report.
Officials at Ignatius said they could not comment at this time on Fessio’s future there.
But Fessio said his exit from Ave Maria University should free him up to focus more energy on his other endeavors.
“A great burden has been lifted off my shoulders,” Fessio said.”Now I can pray and work for the Lord’s vineyards in other ways.
“The Lord has a plan. It will be revealed.
According to his official biography with the university, Fessio is a protege of Pope Benedict XVI, having written his dissertation under the direction of the pontiff while Benedict XVI was still a cardinal.
The theologian holds degrees from Gonzaga University, Fourviere Jesuit Faculty of Theology in France and the University of Regensberg in Germany.
Fessio has also been outspoken in his political views regarding abortion, and is frequently quoted by conservative commentators.
Since the founding of the Naples university, Fessio has been on board. He wrote many fundraising letters for the school. The text of many of those letters remains on the university’s Web site.
The Naples campus began as an expansion of Ave Maria College in Michigan. When it opened in 2003 it became the first new Catholic university opened in 40 years, according to a fundraising letter by Fessio.
According to Catholic World News, Fessio was instrumental in attracting prestigious Catholic faculty members to the university and that his “sudden departure raised questions about the overall future direction of Ave Maria University.”
Fessio said he hoped the university would continue moving forward.
“We have attracted some very fine students, both in terms of academics and in their commitment to faith,” Fessio said. “A lot of students came by my office today, and I told them all to just keep doing what they are doing.”
Fessio said his ouster should not be percieved as a sign of further shake-up at the school.
“I’m probably just a lightning rod,” he said. “I tend to stick out in a crowd.”
6:42 p.m.
The provost of Ave Maria University campus in Naples was asked to step down and leave campus today.
No specific reasons were cited in a statement about Father Joseph Fessio’s departure, but already the news is the discussion of Catholics around the globe.
The following statement was released by university officials:
“Father Joseph Fessio, S.J. was asked to step down as Provost of the University as a result of irreconcilable differences over administrative policies and practices.
There has never been any difference in our commitment to our mission or to the Magisterium of the Church. Nor is there any diminishment in our commitment to maintaining the highest quality of scholarship.
We are grateful for the enormous contributions Father Fessio has made to the development of Ave Maria University, especially to the liturgical and intellectual development of the institution. We look forward to him serving the University in an advisory capacity in the future.”
Officials at the university said it is policy that employees asked to step down depart from the institution immediately.
Fessio served both as provost and professor of theology at Ave Maria University.
In addition to his educational duties, Fessio is founder of Ignatius Press, a Catholic publishing house, and publisher of Catholic World Report.
Officials at Ignatius said they could not comment at this time on Fessio’s future there.
According to his official biography with the university, Fessio is a protege of Pope Benedict XVI, having written his dissertation under the direction of the pontiff while Benedict XVI was still a cardinal.
The theologian holds degrees from Gonzaga University, Fourviere Jesuit Faculty of Theology in France and the University of Regensberg in Germany.
Fessio has also been outspoken in his political views regarding abortion, and is frequently quoted by conservative commentators.
Since the founding of the Naples university, Fessio has been on board. He wrote many fundraising letters for the school. The text of many of those letters remains on the university’s Web site.
The Naples campus began as an expansion of Ave Maria College in Michigan. When it opened in 2003 it became the first new Catholic university opened in 40 years, according to a fundraising letter by Fessio.
According to Catholic World News, Fessio was instrumental in attracting prestigious Catholic faculty members to the university and that his “sudden departure raised questions about the overall future direction of Ave Maria University.”
I am still unclear WHO asked him to step down.
[Below, a note received from a viewer at Ave Maria University in Florida, where a popular priest, Father Joseph Fessio, was fired Wednesday]:
"Everyone received an email at 2:06 p.m. from Fr. Fessio saying that he has been asked to resign, which he refused to do and rightfully so, and leave campus immediately.
"There was a virtually immediate outcry from the students but also from the vast majority of the faculty as well. Students were outside the administration building and Fr. Fessio's cabana praying. Within an hour of the announcement there were well over 200, from a school of 350 students, that's quick, students either outside the administration building or his cabana praying for Fr. Fessio and for the school.
Students were wearing signs saying they supported Fr. Fessio and one student was wearing a sign that said Healy 1, Benedict 0. One of the priests here actually called the Vatican to inform them. The comment was made that Pope Benedict knew before he went to sleep. Whether that is true or not is unknown of course. After hours of prayer protest there was a meeting at 4:30 in the Stella Maris chapel were their were numerous standing ovations for Fr. Fessio and one student who put it very well when she said to the administration, 'You have lost all credibility with us.'
"The administration, including Mr. Thomas Monaghan [founder], has forgotten that the school is here for the students. The students as of 8 am have received no true explanation for the firing, and that's what it was, which further illustrates Ave's 'tunnel vision' that completely takes the purpose of the school, that is to educate students, and throws it out the window.
"Even if this had to be done there is no excuse for the way it had to be done. Let me be clear that I strongly believe it didn't have to be and shouldn't have been done. If Mr. Monaghan and Mr. Healy want yes men then they are doing the school a great disservice and the Catholic Church as a whole. This school, as is true with all things, is here to serve Christ not their own personal interests. That needs to be remembered."
Noted another viewer who lives nearby:
that's a big mistake for Mr. Monaghan and a huge loss for the university.
Maybe this is providential and Pope Benedict will have a much more important position for him.
Things that make you go Humm.Bump to mark my spot.
This is all very odd. I'm not surprised that the students are upset.
*************
This is really dreadful.
That would be nice! Fr. Fessio is a very outspoken and determined person, and I think he makes enemies because he is uncompromising. He was canned by USF after the administration was taken over by liberal Jesuits, who closed his very successful institute there. And now this, although I have not been following things at Ave Maria closely enough to have any idea of why it might have happened. But I would suspect that it was because he was adamant on various points that others thought were negotiable.
How about Fr. Fessio as the new "Black Pope" (head of the Jesuits)? Or maybe bishop of some place that needs a really good strong bishop (like New York, for example). Or a new cardinal...
That would be really traumatic to a LOT of Jesuits...
(evil laugh track playing in background)
this is terrible. my daughter was accepted here for next school year, but has chosen to attend the University of Dallas,instead. i would think it would be very unsettling for incoming students to hear of this.
Yes, it would probably be like the Crash of '29 - lefty Jebbies defenestrating themselves, knowing all was lost...
-my first thought as well.
prominent Roman Catholic thinker, the Rev. Joseph Fessio, provost of Ave Maria University in Naples, Fla., and editor of Ignatius Press, Pope Benedict XVI's U.S. publisher."Same-sex activity is considered disordered," Fessio said. "If there are ways of detecting diseases or disorders of children in the womb, and a way of treating them that respected the dignity of the child and mother, it would be a wonderful advancement of science."
Fessio was also quoted in the International Herald Tribune...http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/14/america/NA-GEN-US-Baptist-Gay-Babies.php
IMHO, Monoghan jumped the shark with his proposed Ave Maria city..
Yeah, I realize the Church is not into PR, but their management style is the "death of a million papercuts" variety.
I don't know how this could be a good thing? Hopefully, all shall be revealed in time.
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