NEW FACULTY JOIN
SACRED HEART
Sacred Heart Welcomes New Spiritual
Director and Director of Liturgical Music
Fr. Cyril Whitaker, SJ
Jonathan Francis
COMING OFF THE HEELS OF ITS LARGEST GRADUATING CLASS IN OVER A DECADE,
AND WITH 123 SEMINARIANS ENROLLED FOR THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR—
A HIGH MARK NOT SEEN SINCE THE SEMINARY’S REFOUNDING AS A MAJOR SEMINARY
IN 1988—THE LORD HAS TRULY BLESSED SACRED HEART. WITH ALL THE BLESSINGS COMES
INCREASED DEMANDS ON FACULTY, WHICH IS WHY THE ADDITION OF SACRED HEART’S
NEWEST FACULTY MEMBERS COULDN’T COME AT A BETTER TIME. THIS YEAR, MSGR. TODD
LAJINESS, RECTOR OF SACRED HEART, WAS PLEASED TO WELCOME FR. CYRIL WHITAKER,
SJ, AND STEPHANIE NOFAR-KELLY AS THE NEWEST ADDITIONS TO THE SEMINARY.
This summer, Fr. Cyril Whitaker, SJ, as-
sumed his new responsibilities as a mem-
ber of the resident priest faculty. Many
students already know Fr. Whitaker from
his role last year as part-time spiritual di-
rector at the seminary. Fr. Whitaker now
serves as a full-time spiritual director and
devotes his entire time to spiritual direc-
tion, retreat work, and conferences for the
seminarians.
During his 2018 rector’s address, Msgr.
Lajiness expressed his gratitude to Fr.
Brian Paulson, provincial of the Mid-West
province of Jesuits, for releasing Fr. Whita-
ker for full-time service as a resident priest
at Sacred Heart.
“I’m pleased that we are able to welcome
Fr. Whitaker to the seminary and grateful
to have a faithful, devout, and wise spiri-
tual father who will guide our men and ac-
company them in their discernment and
growth in holiness,” said Msgr. Lajiness.
In addition to Fr. Cyril Whitaker, Msgr.
Lajiness welcomed Stephanie Nofar-Kelly
as the new director of liturgical music.
Mrs. Nofar-Kelly is an accomplished musi-
cian with a Master of Music degree from
the University of Michigan. She replaces
Dr. Ronald Prowse, who transitioned to
semi-retirement from his role as director
of liturgical music and professor of music.
Dr. Prowse will remain in his teaching ca-
pacity as associate professor of music.
Mrs. Nofar-Kelly will work closely with
Fr. Charles Fox, director of graduate semi-
narians and director of Liturgy at Sacred
Heart, contributing to the liturgical forma-
tion of seminarians. In a letter to seminary
faculty and students, Fr. Fox explained
that the search for a new director of liturgi-
cal music involved a careful and collabora-
tive search process.
“Stephanie understands and embraces
the mission of our seminary,” said Fr. Fox.
“She brings many great gifts to this new
role, including her vibrant Catholic faith
and a wealth of experience and talent in
the areas of choral leadership, organ play-
ing, and vocal performance.”
Fr. Fox went on to thank Dr. Prowse for
his years of dedication and service to the
seminary. “Our seminary owes Dr. Prowse
a great debt of gratitude for his years of
service as our director of liturgical music,
a position he held jointly with his faculty
position.”
With student enrollment continuing
to increase and the upcoming centennial
celebration in 2019, Sacred Heart needs
talented and dedicated staff as it moves
forward. We are pleased to welcome Fr.
Whitaker and Mrs. Nofar-Kelly to the
seminary community.
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