On July 1, Rev. James Cuddy, O.P. '98 will return to his alma mater to begin his new assignment as chaplain of Providence College.

Appointed in June by the Very Rev. D. Dominic Izzo, O.P. '88, prior provincial of the Dominican Province of St. Joseph, Father Cuddy will replace Rev. Thomas Blau, O.P., who served as chaplain for the past four and a half years. Father Blau has been named a parochial vicar at St. Patrick's Parish in Columbus, Ohio.

While he was a student at the College, Father Cuddy studied marketing in preparation for a career in advertising. "The Lord, however, had other plans," he said.

After graduation, he spent one year with the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps, an experience that left him "with the sure conviction that God was inviting me to enter the Dominican Order."

During his priestly formation, Father Cuddy studied at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Oakland, Calif., and the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C., where his ministries included working with immigrants, runaway children, and terminal cancer patients.

He was ordained to the priesthood on May 18, 2007, by the Most Rev. Donald W. Wuerl, S.T.D., archbishop of Washington, D.C., at St. Dominic Church in Washington. He later served at New York Presbyterian Hospital and Sloan Kettering Memorial Hospital in New York City.

His most recent assignment was as parochial vicar at St. Louis Bertrand Parish in Louisville, Ky., where he taught a Bible study course and worked with the young adult groups of the parish.

Eager to return to his alma mater
Father Cuddy is excited to be back on the campus where, as he worded it, he first came to love the Dominican Order.

"Being named chaplain of the College is a great honor," he said. "It was at Providence College that I embraced the Catholic faith and first discerned my vocation."

Father Cuddy, who grew up in Braintree, Mass., said he hopes the Office of the Chaplain/Campus Ministry will be a helpful resource for all members of the PC community.

"One of the things that excites me most about returning to Providence is the opportunity to serve in a ministry that transformed my life when I was a student," he said. "I received many graces in the chaplain's office and pray that the Lord will use me to bring similar blessings to this new generation of PC students."

"I'm really looking forward to working with the staff in the chaplain's office," he continued. "They are extraordinarily talented individuals, each with different gifts and personalities, but are able to work together in a complementary way.

"I'm also excited to get out and meet the students on campus, especially those who aren't exactly regular churchgoers. It's important to reach out to them and invite them to make the chaplain's office a part of their Providence College lives."

While underscoring the importance of his new assignment, Father Cuddy made it clear that he also plans to enjoy being back at PC.

"Living all over the country has been a great opportunity to meet and serve all kinds of people," he said. "But it also means that it's been way too many years since I've been to the 'Dunk' [Dunkin' Donuts Center] for a BIG EAST game. I'm really looking forward to that! But I think that, at this stage of my life, I'll probably skip the face paint."

- Joe Miller '10