Rev. Francis S. Tebbe, O.F.M., D.Min., joins Catholic Theological Union's Board of Trustees

Appointed by Franciscan Province of Saint John the Baptist

Chicago (June 23, 2008) Rev. Francis S. Tebbe, O.F.M., D.Min., vice president, office of the president, and secretary of the corporation at Saint Xavier University, was appointed a member of the Catholic Theological Union’s Board of Trustees by the Franciscan Province of Saint John the Baptist, a corporate member of CTU.

The Board of Trustees governs the fiscal, educational and administrative affairs of CTU, the largest Roman Catholic school of theology and ministry in North America. The Chicago-based school’s Board of Trustees is composed of 25 corporate members from the religious communities sponsoring CTU and 21 at-large trustees who hold leadership roles in business, education and civic life.

Prior to coming to Saint Xavier in January 2004 as executive assistant to the president and secretary of the corporation, Father Tebbe served as a special assistant for mission and planning in the Office of the Provost and associate professor of theology in the College of Arts and Sciences at Lewis University in Romeoville. He also previously served as vice president for enrollment management at Lewis University (1999-2002); vice president for planning and mission effectiveness at Madonna University in Livonia, Mich. (1993-1999); associate director of the Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame (1990-1993); assistant professor of religious education and first director of continuing education at Catholic Theological Union (1985-1990); and the first director of adult education for the Archdiocese of Boston (1980-1985).

Father Tebbe served parishes and schools in Michigan, Illinois and New Mexico from 1975-1980. He was a missionary in Leyte, Philippines, from 1974-1975.

Father Tebbe received a Papal title investing him as a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem in 2007. Since 1996, Father Tebbe has served as president and chair of the Governing Board of the national Catholic Coalition on Preaching, a national association of 26 organizations, institutes, theological schools and lay and religious congregations dedicated to promoting quality Catholic preaching. He has been a member and served in a variety of other national leadership roles, including the president of the National Organization of Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy (NOCERCC) from 1992 and 2001. Between 1992 and 2001, he also served as a priest-consultant for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Priestly Life and Ministry. From 1987 to 2005, he was the Director of Ongoing Formation for his Franciscan province and the founding chair (1991-2005) of the International Ongoing Formation Council of the English-Speaking Conference of the Order of Friars Minor.

Father Tebbe earned a B.A. from Duns Scotus College in Southfield, Mich; an M.Div. from Saint Leonard School of Theology in Centerville, Ohio; an M.Ed. from Boston College and a Doctor of Ministry from Andover Newton Theological School in Newton Center (Boston), Mass. He did postgraduate study at Marygrove College in Detroit, Mich., and at Providence College. He has also received certifications in adult education and theological field education supervision. Father Tebbe is an ordained Presbyter in the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans) of the Province of Saint John the Baptist.

Father Tebbe was the recipient of a 1998 “Finalist” Telly Award, executive producer and general editor of Priestly Relationships: Freedom through Boundaries, the1997 NOCERCC print and video resource. He was editor of three books and has authored multiple reviews and articles. In May 2007, the Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Mo., awarded Father Tebbe the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa.

-SXU-

For More Information:

Contact: Rick Ducat

ducat@sxu.edu or (773)298-3325