St. Ignatius High School president appointed to Jesuit leadership positionDick Russ
Father Timothy Kesicki, S.J., president of St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland since 2000, has been appointed leader of the Jesuits' Detroit Province. Kesicki's appointment was one of the first major decisions made by the newly-elected, worldwide leader of the Society of Jesus, Father Adolfo Nicholas, S.J. Before coming to Saint Ignatius, Kesicki, an Erie, Pa. native and John Carroll University graduate, taught at Jesuit schools in Detroit and served with the Jesuit Refugee Service in Uganda. He currently serves on the Board of Consultors to the Detroit Province's Jesuit provincial."It is with great sadness that I will say farewell to Saint Ignatius, but I am willing to serve the Jesuit Order in this noble work," said Kesicki, who will begin his new duties July 1. In selecting a school president, Father General Nicolás is utilizing a Jesuit with administrative experience to implement the new strategic directives of Jesuits in the United States. For the past five years, the U.S. Jesuits have planned a realignment process to reduce the number of provinces.
By streamlining their order, the Jesuits wish to place more Jesuit priests in schools and other ministries. Kesicki will work with other U.S. provincials in creating a consolidated province in the Midwest by 2020.
The current Provincial, Father Robert J. Scullin, S.J., said, "Our province has been blessed by the appointment of Fr. Kesicki as our new superior. He will lead us into an exciting new future of service to the church in the Midwestern United States." In Cleveland, the Jesuits run John Carroll University, Saint Ignatius High School, Walsh Jesuit High School, Gesu Parish and the Jesuit Retreat House in Parma. During his tenure at Saint Ignatius, Kesicki has led the "Ignatius Men Forever" capital campaign, now in its third year. Working with the school's Advancement Department, Kesicki has helped raise money for financial aid endowment, the teaching endowment, spiritual development and laying the groundwork to build the new Breen Center for the Performing Arts. The campaign is close to reaching the $30 million mark. In addition to his work on the campaign, Kesicki spearheaded physical changes on campus with the renovation of Wasmer Field, the athletic field that stretches along Lorain Avenue, and the construction of the new Rade Dining Hall and Wildcat Café & Marketplace.
He also expanded student service throughout Cleveland with the development of
the St. Joseph of Arimathea Pallbearer Society and Labre Ministry,
a program that reaches out to the city's homeless. He created the position of vice president of Ignatius Mission to place more responsibility of spiritual development in the hands of lay personnel. According to the school's news release, Kesicki placed a great deal of emphasis on the arts, the importance of creating a more diverse student population, and maintaining ties with alumni. "Tim is a personable leader who knows how to connect with people. He has an uncommon ability to relate to students and the faculty," said Peter Corrigan Jr., principal of Saint Ignatius High School." In fact, I have caught him on occasion leading the students in praying for a snow day," said Corrigan. "We have benefitted from Tim's leadership in many ways. He is, first and foremost, a pastor and preacher of great skill." The schools board of regents will be naming an interim president until a committee is formed to search for a new school president. Throughout its 121-year history, Saint Ignatius has had 24 presidents, all Jesuits. Fred DiSanto, chairman of the board of regents said, "I commend Fr. Kesicki for the fine job he has done as president of the school. I have every confidence that we will find a worthy successor."
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