Patrick Rogers, S.J., Named Executive Director of The Jesuit Center at The University of Scranton

The University of Scranton has named Patrick Rogers, S.J., as executive director of The Jesuit Center, which was established to assist in keeping the Catholic and Jesuit character of the University at the core of its operation. Father Rogers, who began serving as executive director in January 2017, brings with him decades of educational, administrative and ministry experience, including service at Scranton Preparatory School.

“While his work and ministry with different apostolates have taken him to many cities throughout the United States, Father Rogers is also well-acquainted with Scranton. From 1997 to 1999, he lived in Campion Hall (the Scranton Jesuit Community) while serving as the director of student activities at Scranton Prep. Additionally, his international work with the Jesuits has taken him to every continent except Antarctica. The University community is pleased to welcome him back to Scranton,” said University President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J.

A native of Annapolis, Maryland, Father Rogers served for more than a decade at Georgetown University, first as director of campus ministry for the main campus and, most recently, as the director of the Catholic chaplaincy, for which he was responsible for promoting and nurturing Catholic ministry at Georgetown. Previously, Father Rogers was parochial vicar at St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, and worked with inner city youth in Oakland, California, and the South Bronx, New York.

Father Rogers entered the Society of Jesus in 1992 and was ordained a priest in 2002. Prior to entering the Society of Jesus, he was a professional musician and holds a bachelor’s degree in music performance (clarinet) from Towson University in Maryland. While at Towson he also played saxophone for Jazz Great Hank Levy, one of the most innovative Jazz writers and educators of the late 20^th century.  Levy’s work entitled “Whiplash” was a featured piece, and title track, of the academy award winning film of the same title.  For five seasons he sang tenor with the Baltimore Opera Chorus and was an instrumental music teacher for a number of different schools in the greater Baltimore Metropolitan area. He was also the associate music director of the orchestra at Towson University from 1989 to 1991. Father Rogers is an avid tennis player and former high school tennis coach.

Father Rogers earned a master’s degree in philosophy from Fordham University and a master’s degree in divinity from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley in California. He earned his doctorate at Georgetown University, writing his thesis on the confluence of Germanic and Christian symbols in the Grimms’ Fairy Tales.

The Jesuit Center, established in July 2012 by Father Quinn, fosters faculty and staff participation in the Jesuit higher educational mission, supports faculty teaching and scholarship that advances the University’s Catholic and Jesuit character, and promotes Ignatian spirituality within an interreligious context.