Published: April 30, 2009

Fordham has named Monsignor Joseph Quinn the new Vice President of the Office of Mission and Ministry.  Quinn, a native of Scranton, Pa., comes to Fordham from Carbondale, Pa., where he currently acts as the pastor of the St. Rose of Lima parish.

“I’m very excited about becoming a member of the Fordham family,” Quinn said. “I’ve known of Fordham my whole life, but never up close, and I’m thrilled to get to be a part of it.”

Quinn said that when he was initially invited to the position in January by Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham, whom Quinn said is a “close friend” of nearly 15 years, he saw the opportunity as a “whole new adventure” in his career. “My tasks at Fordham are similar to those working in a parish setting– proclaiming the message of Jesus Christ, stirring people’s faith, and encouraging them to use the gifts given to them by God,” Quinn said. “People are here on Earth for a limited time, and it’s important for them to make the best of the time given.”

Quinn said that his job will be to assist the president and the staff at Fordham in “advancing the mission” of the university. “I look forward to being part of the energy here at Fordham.”

According to a biography provided by St. Rose Parish, Quinn became a federal magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court of the Middle District of Pennsylvania in 1976. Quinn, then 25 years old, was the youngest person in the country to serve in that position.

After five years serving as magistrate, Quinn left the public post and entered the seminary, and completed his studies for the priesthood at the North American College in Rome where he was awarded graduate degrees in theology from both the Gregorian University and the Angelicum University.

Quinn was ordained into the priesthood in 1985 and was given dual degrees in canon law from the University of Ottawa and St. Paul’s University in Ottawa in 1989.

Before becoming pastor of St. Rose Parish, Quinn spent 15 years as pastor and rector of St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton, an experience that Quinn says will “guide” him in his new position: “I’m using every chapter of my life as experience.”

According to the Scranton Times, Quinn moved to Carbondale in 2005 and has become active in the city’s revitalization campaign. Quinn chaired a board that has raised 9 million dollars to renovate the Carbondale YMCA, a project that has been supported by the governor of Pennsylvania as a way for the city to reverse its economic decline. In addition, Quinn sits on the board of trustees for The University of Scranton (his alma mater), Mercy Hospital in Scranton, and others.

Quinn said the move to New York City is as “exciting” as it is challenging. “I’m excited to experience life in New York City. Needless to say, it’s quite different from life in Northeastern Pennsylvania.”

Quinn said that “buying a GPS system” is high on his list of priorities upon moving to the city. “I got lost in the Bronx the first night I visited,” he said.

He continued, “[New York City] is a whole new world for me. I see it as a life-giving opportunity to stretch even further to use what God has given me. It’s a significant change in the rhythm of my life, but I look forward to embracing a new rhythm.”

Quinn will start at his new position on July 31, taking the reins from current vice president Rev. Patrick Ryan. Quinn said that while the new position is “quite a change,” it is one he looks forward to. He said, “One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is to never be afraid to change, only be afraid of not changing.”