Joseph Cassidy (Anglican priest)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Cassidy is Principal of St Chad's College
at Durham University
, England. He is a member of the university's theology department and a non-residentiary canon of Durham Cathedral
.
Cassidy was born in Westmount
, Quebec
, Canada
, but grew up on the West Island
of Montreal, where he was educated at St. Thomas High School (Pointe-Claire). He won the 'Match of the Minds' competition to gain a full scholarship at Loyola College (Montreal)
(later to become Concordia University), from which he graduated with a first class honours degree in theological studies in 1975. After postgraduate studies at University of St. Michael's College
, University of Toronto
, he entered the Jesuits in Guelph, Ontario. He subsequently studied philosophy at the University of Detroit, where he was awarded an MA
degree in philosophy, with a perfect 4.0 GPA (1980).
After his philosophy studies, Cassidy spent a brief formative time in Kingston, Jamaica, as a pastoral assistant. He was later assigned to teach at Gonzaga Regional High School in St. John's, Newfoundland, where he taught Physics and English for two years. He returned to Toronto for theology studies, this time to Regis College, U of T, (University of Toronto
) where he was awarded a Bachelor of Sacred Theology
(summa cum laude) and a Master of Divinity
(first class honours) from the Toronto School of Theology
. During his theological studies, he spent the better part of a year in post-revolutionary Nicaragua working as a researcher at the Instituto Nicaragüense de Investigaciones Económicas y Sociales (INIES) at the Universidad Centroamericana. Throughout his time at Regis College he was an associate of the Jesuit Centre for Social Faith and Justice in Toronto.
After ordination to the priesthood, he became a member of the retreat team at Loyola House, Guelph, Canada, where, among other things, he directed thirty-day retreats. He transferred to Montreal to care for an ailing parent, becoming co-director of the Ignatian Centre, Montreal, and Visiting Professor at Concordia University. At Concordia, he taught courses in the history of spirituality and social ethics. During these years, he began a doctorate in Ottawa and directed dozens of workshops and retreats across Canada and the United States.
After leaving the Jesuits in 1991, Cassidy earned an STL
degree from Saint Paul University
and taught ethics part-time for the university. He moved to Toronto to became Director of Research at a small NGO -- the Latin American Working Group (LAWG) -- where he edited Central America Update, a monthly journal/newsletter providing news and analysis on Central America. Cassidy obtained a conjoint PhD
degree in Social Ethics from the University of Ottawa
and Saint Paul University
, where his thesis on the Ethics of Bernard Lonergan
was awarded the University of Ottawa Graduate School’s Gold Medal (Prix de l’École). He was also awarded a DTh
degree by St Paul University.
Cassidy has held academic positions in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Southampton, and Durham. He became an Anglican in 1993, was licensed as an Anglican priest in 1996, and has been a member of the theology department and Principal of St Chad’s College since 1997, where he worked to turn the college around financially and academically. The author of dozens of scholarly articles, he was a university proctor at the Church of England
’s General Synod
from 1999 to 2005 and has been a non-residentiary canon of Durham Cathedral since 2001.
A theological liberal on social issues, he has written in later years on spirituality, philosophical ethics, sexuality, Anglicanism, and economics. He is a member of the Council of Durham Cathedral and has chaired and served on a number of panels and committees of the Church of England's Ministry Division. He is a Trustee of the Royal School of Church Music
(the RSCM) and the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK). He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
and a Founding Fellow of the Institute of Continuing Professional Development
.
St Chad's College
St Chad's College is a college of the University of Durham in England. One of the smallest of Durham's colleges in terms of student numbers , it has the largest staff, the most extensive college library facilities, and consistently the highest academic results in Durham...
at Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
, England. He is a member of the university's theology department and a non-residentiary canon of Durham Cathedral
Durham Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham is a cathedral in the city of Durham, England, the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Durham. The Bishopric dates from 995, with the present cathedral being founded in AD 1093...
.
Cassidy was born in Westmount
Westmount, Quebec
Westmount is a city on the Island of Montreal, an enclave of the city of Montreal, in southwestern Quebec, Canada; pop. 20,494; area 4.02 km²; population density of 5,092.56 inhabitants/km²....
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, but grew up on the West Island
West Island
The West Island is the unofficial name given to the western cities and boroughs of the Island of Montreal, in Quebec, Canada...
of Montreal, where he was educated at St. Thomas High School (Pointe-Claire). He won the 'Match of the Minds' competition to gain a full scholarship at Loyola College (Montreal)
Loyola College (Montreal)
Loyola College was a Jesuit college in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It ceased to exist when it was incorporated into Concordia University in 1974. A portion of the original College remains as a separate entity called Loyola High School....
(later to become Concordia University), from which he graduated with a first class honours degree in theological studies in 1975. After postgraduate studies at University of St. Michael's College
University of St. Michael's College
The University of St. Michael's College is a college of the University of Toronto, founded in 1852 by the Congregation of St. Basil of Annonay, France. While mainly an undergraduate college for liberal arts and sciences, St. Michael's retains its Roman Catholic affiliation through its postgraduate...
, University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, he entered the Jesuits in Guelph, Ontario. He subsequently studied philosophy at the University of Detroit, where he was awarded an MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in philosophy, with a perfect 4.0 GPA (1980).
After his philosophy studies, Cassidy spent a brief formative time in Kingston, Jamaica, as a pastoral assistant. He was later assigned to teach at Gonzaga Regional High School in St. John's, Newfoundland, where he taught Physics and English for two years. He returned to Toronto for theology studies, this time to Regis College, U of T, (University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
) where he was awarded a Bachelor of Sacred Theology
Bachelor of Sacred Theology
The Bachelor of Sacred Theology is a graduate-level academic degree in theology.The Bachelor of Sacred Theology is offered by a number of Pontifical Universities. It is sometimes offered as a graduate degree, for students who have already completed a B.A. or other first degree...
(summa cum laude) and a Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
(first class honours) from the Toronto School of Theology
Toronto School of Theology
The Toronto School of Theology is an ecumenical centre for graduate theological education and the largest of its kind in Canada. Affiliated with the University of Toronto, the TST comprises seven member colleges in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Reformed traditions, as well as four affiliated...
. During his theological studies, he spent the better part of a year in post-revolutionary Nicaragua working as a researcher at the Instituto Nicaragüense de Investigaciones Económicas y Sociales (INIES) at the Universidad Centroamericana. Throughout his time at Regis College he was an associate of the Jesuit Centre for Social Faith and Justice in Toronto.
After ordination to the priesthood, he became a member of the retreat team at Loyola House, Guelph, Canada, where, among other things, he directed thirty-day retreats. He transferred to Montreal to care for an ailing parent, becoming co-director of the Ignatian Centre, Montreal, and Visiting Professor at Concordia University. At Concordia, he taught courses in the history of spirituality and social ethics. During these years, he began a doctorate in Ottawa and directed dozens of workshops and retreats across Canada and the United States.
After leaving the Jesuits in 1991, Cassidy earned an STL
Licentiate of Sacred Theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology is the title of the second cycle of studies of a Faculty of Theology offered by a pontifical universities or ecclesiastical faculties of sacred theology. An Ecclesiastical Faculty offers three cycles of study: Baccalaureate or fundamentals, Licentiate or specialized,...
degree from Saint Paul University
Saint Paul University
Saint Paul University is a Catholic Pontifical university federated with the University of Ottawa. It is located on Main Street in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and has been entrusted for more than a century to the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
and taught ethics part-time for the university. He moved to Toronto to became Director of Research at a small NGO -- the Latin American Working Group (LAWG) -- where he edited Central America Update, a monthly journal/newsletter providing news and analysis on Central America. Cassidy obtained a conjoint PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree in Social Ethics from the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
and Saint Paul University
Saint Paul University
Saint Paul University is a Catholic Pontifical university federated with the University of Ottawa. It is located on Main Street in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and has been entrusted for more than a century to the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
, where his thesis on the Ethics of Bernard Lonergan
Bernard Lonergan
Fr. Bernard J.F. Lonergan, CC, SJ was a Canadian Jesuit priest, philosopher, and theologian widely regarded as one of the most important Catholic thinkers of the twentieth century....
was awarded the University of Ottawa Graduate School’s Gold Medal (Prix de l’École). He was also awarded a DTh
Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology is a terminal academic degree in theology. It is a research degree that is considered by the U.S. National Science Foundation to be the equivalent of a Doctor of Philosophy....
degree by St Paul University.
Cassidy has held academic positions in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Southampton, and Durham. He became an Anglican in 1993, was licensed as an Anglican priest in 1996, and has been a member of the theology department and Principal of St Chad’s College since 1997, where he worked to turn the college around financially and academically. The author of dozens of scholarly articles, he was a university proctor at the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
’s General Synod
General Synod
-Church of England:In the Church of England, the General Synod, which was established in 1970 , is the legislative body of the Church.-Episcopal Church of the United States:...
from 1999 to 2005 and has been a non-residentiary canon of Durham Cathedral since 2001.
A theological liberal on social issues, he has written in later years on spirituality, philosophical ethics, sexuality, Anglicanism, and economics. He is a member of the Council of Durham Cathedral and has chaired and served on a number of panels and committees of the Church of England's Ministry Division. He is a Trustee of the Royal School of Church Music
Royal School of Church Music
The largest church music organisation in Britain, the Royal School of Church Music was founded in 1927 by Sir Sydney Nicholson and has 11,000 members worldwide; it was originally named the School of English Church Music. It seeks to enable church music in the present and invest in its future,...
(the RSCM) and the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK). He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
and a Founding Fellow of the Institute of Continuing Professional Development
Institute of Continuing Professional Development
The Institute of Continuing Professional Development is the main institute concerned with continuing professional development in the United Kingdom...
.