Good news from Hawk Hill.

After a week of generally bad news, here's some good news from Hawk Hill, concerning my brother Jesuit and departmental colleague Joe Godfrey:

Professor-Designate of Philosophy, Joseph J. Godfrey, S.J., has been named the inaugural holder of the Reverend Joseph S. Hogan, S.J. ’03 Endowed Chair in Philosophy.

"I am grateful to colleagues and the University for the appointment, and eager to expand my teaching, research and service in the spirit of the Chair," said Fr. Godfrey. "As the donor and the University wish, the Chair will contribute to conversations between philosophy and Catholic understanding and life, within and beyond Saint Joseph's."

. . .

Fr. Godfrey joined SJU’s philosophy department in 1976. His area of specialization is the philosophy of religion. A dedicated teacher and advisor, he received teaching awards in 1986 and 1992, and served as Rector of the Jesuit Community from 1997-2003. He has held visiting professorships at Marquette University, as the Francis C. Wade, S.J., Chair, and at Santa Clara University as the Bannan Scholar in the philosophy department. His most recent book, Trust of People, Words, and God: A Route in Philosophy of Religion, has been accepted for publication by the University of Notre Dame Press.

As indicated by the use of the unusual term "Professor-Designate," Father Godfrey's appointment to the Hogan Chair coincides with his promotion from the rank of associate professor to full professor in the Department of Philosophy at Saint Joseph's University. I can affirm that these honors are very well-deserved: Joe is one of the most dedicated and hard-working people I know, an exemplary Jesuit, a generous colleague, and - I can say this because our offices are next to one another - a good neighbor. As I extend my congratulations to Father Joe Godfrey, I pray also that he may continue to serve SJU faithfully and well for years to come. AMDG.