Fairfield University will not only say goodbye to the Class of 2003, but also two of its most beloved Jesuits. Rev. Thomas J. Regan, S.J. and Rev. Gregory Grovenburg, S.J. will leave the Fairfield community this summer, and their presence on this campus will be sorely missed.
Both Regan and Grovenburg are among the finest examples of the Jesuit mission at Fairfield, and their loss will be felt throughout the community. While an Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, Regan’s presence in the long and winding line of freshman course registrants was helpful and reassuring, as he worked tirelessly to get everyone into required courses and roll-overs for which they had forgotten to sign up.
Anyone who has lived in a residence hall at Fairfield over the past few years will no doubt have had positive experiences with Grovenburg, or “Father Greg,” as he is affectionately known. His endless efforts in listening and advising students have led many to wonder aloud when, if at all, he sleeps! As humble as he is outgoing, Grovenburg chose not to speak with The Mirror about his departure.
But beyond the anecdotal greatness of these two men is a possible crisis in the Jesuit community as a whole. By the numbers, there are just less and less Jesuits across the country, which has led schools such as Georgetown University – probably the most academically challenging Jesuit university – to name a non-Jesuit layperson as university president.
The Mirror believes, however, that this is not as big a crisis as it seems. Even though the overall numbers of Jesuits are going down, the same is not happening to the Jesuit mission and tradition. More qualified students apply to Fairfield every year, and as long as more laypeople are able to become involved and committed to the Jesuit mission in education, the rich tradition of Jesuit education will be alive and well.
The legacy left behind by these two humble Padres is great. Regan leaves behind, among his many accomplishments, a successful launch of the Ignatian Residential College and Grovenburg is leaving a Campus Ministry which has actively engaged the student body helping spearhead such events as “Hunger and Homelessness Week” and “Hunger Cleanup.”
We wish them nothing but the best. The life of the mind here at Fairfield has been enhanced greatly thanks to these men.
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