Former Secretary of Education for the Society of Jesus Joins Scranton as Rector

Rev. Thomas E. Roach, S.J., who served as Secretary for Education for the Society of Jesus in Rome, will now serve as Rector of the Jesuit Community at Scranton. 

He succeeds Rev. George A. Aschenbrenner, S.J., who served as rector of the Scranton Jesuit Community since July of 2003. 

Fr. Roach delivered the principal address at The University of Scranton’s 2008 Commencement, at which he received an honorary degree from the University.

As Secretary for Education for the Society of Jesus, Fr. Roach was responsible for helping implement the educational ministry of the Jesuits worldwide. Since 2001, he has been the Superior General’s liaison with the 3,888 Jesuit educational institutions worldwide, serving approximately three million students. 

Fr. Roach served for 25 years in various administrative positions, including principal of St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia, assistant for secondary education for the Maryland Province, and headmaster and president of Georgetown Preparatory School in North Bethesda, Md.

He earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from St. Louis University, a Master of Divinity from Woodstock College in Maryland and a Master of Sacred Theology from Woodstock College in New York.

Fr. Roach serves on the Board of Trustees at Scranton Preparatory School and The University of Scranton.

Born in Baltimore, Md., he entered the Society of Jesus in 1957 and was ordained on June 6, 1970.