Father Aquinas Guilbeau Becomes First VP of Ministry
By Church News
Father Aquinas Guilbeau, OP, has been appointed the first vice president of ministry and mission at the Catholic University of America (CUA) in Washington, D.C., by the university’s president, Peter K. Kilpatrick.
The position places Father Aquinas Guilbeau in the president’s cabinet along with other university vice presidents. The priest is a member of the Dominican Province of St. Joseph and taught moral theology at the Dominican House of Studies, where he also served as prior of the community. He has been the university’s chaplain for the past year.
In a press release, Kilpatrick said the appointment makes formal what has long been the practice of CUA leadership — “consulting our head of campus ministry on matters of faith, morals, and Catholic identity, and to integrate his advice into the important decisions of the university.”
“Every member of our community helps to carry out the university’s mission, but the new title and leadership structure helps us all to keep uppermost in our minds all matters relating to the university mission,” Kilpatrick said in a press release. “… We are especially blessed to have Father Aquinas Guilbeau, OP, as the first person to hold this position. I trust his judgment and I rely on his counsel.”
In the new role, Father Aquinas Guilbeau will assist the president “in animating the Catholic character of the university … and help to articulate and promote the university’s Catholic mission, spirituality, ministry, ideals, principles, and charisms to all members of the community, including students, faculty, staff, administration, trustees, and alumni.” He will also review and offer advice on matters such as university policy, new hires, and best practices.
Father Guilbeau, who said he is humbled to be called to this new role, will continue overseeing the university’s chaplaincy and campus ministry programs.
“For me, it’s assuming more of an administrative role of being an active participant in those conversations about the life and mission of the university — everything from Catholic identity and character, but also budget, alumni engagement, you name it,” said Guilbeau.