The Office of Campus Ministry has appointed a new director to oversee all campus ministry events. Fr. Timothy S. Godfrey, S.J., joined the Georgetown community this July, and said that since then he has been assisting the department with assessments of campus and student needs while becoming acquainted with the Georgetown community.

“I’ve met so many good people [at Georgetown ]. I’m looking forward to deepening those relationships, broadening those relationships,” Godfrey said.

A native of St. Louis , Godfrey worked most recently in Oakland , Calif. , where he served as pastor of St. Patrick’s Church and mentored graduate theological students. Godfrey said that this work with college-aged lay and Jesuit students was “a real blessing,” and something that he said he looks forward to continuing while at Georgetown .

He said that he also felt many young people had a commitment to spirituality and a desire to better the world through their dedication to their faith.

“Young people really want to give of themselves in a generous way,” Godfrey said. “They feel called to serve.”

Prior to his work in California , Godfrey was a public health nurse in East St. Louis , Ill. He said that his experience working in African-American and Latino communities in both Illinois and California has given him an increased awareness of diversity that drew him to Georgetown . In a pluralistic community such as Georgetown , Godfrey said, the possibility exists to foster community and respect for all, and form leaders who are “not threatened by diversity.”

” Georgetown was founded to be inclusive,” he added.

He said that he felt Georgetown ‘s Catholic tradition meant that Georgetown should be a place where Jesus’ two principle commandments – to love God with heart, mind and soul, and to love one’s neighbor – are always upheld.

“I want to promote the Catholic dimension of our University,” Godfrey said.

He also said that he felt dialogue – especially the process of listening – was vital both across cultures and between faiths.

“Inter-religious dialogue is very important to Jesuits,” he said. He added that he hopes to foster discussion and cordiality between the diverse faiths represented at Georgetown .

“Each [religious] tradition has such a richness to it, such a texture in it,” he said.

Godfrey added that, under his leadership, the ever-popular retreat programs run by Campus Ministry, such as ESCAPE, would be continued.

“Ministry happens not just in a prayer room,” he said.

In a statement on the Office’s website, Fr. Philip Boroughs, S.J., vice president for mission and ministry, wrote that “F ather Godfrey is an energetic and wonderfully pastoral Jesuit with . a deep commitment to social justice and Ignatian spirituality.”

Godfrey entered the Missouri Province of the Society of Jesus in 1973, and has earned a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theology from the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley , and a Master of Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis . In addition, he holds Bachelor’s degrees in nursing and arts from St. Louis University.