Notre Dame, Ind. – Rev. David T. Tyson, C.S.C., will complete his service as Provincial Superior of the Congregation of Holy Cross, United States Province of Priests and Brothers, at the end of the Provincial Chapter on June 22.
Fr. Tyson has been Provincial Superior since 2003, serving the maximum nine-year term limit.
“It is by God’s grace these past nine years that I have led my brothers in Holy Cross, while walking side by side with them in proclaiming the kingdom of God through our ministries of education, parish and mission,” said Fr. Tyson.
During Fr. Tyson’s tenure, vocations to the Province have increased and there has been a renewed interest in and strategies for preparing Religious for roles in parish, higher education and mission in Holy Cross apostolates. Resources have been increased toward the work of Holy Cross in Mexico, while also maintaining a strong presence in East Africa, Chile and Peru.
Fr. Tyson also led the way for the Southern Province of Priests to return to the Indiana Province in 2006 and the former Eastern Province of Priests and Brothers to merge into the Indiana Province, forming the new U.S. Province, in July 2011. The ministries of the Province now include four colleges and universities and numerous parishes and ministries in the United States, Mexico, Chile, East Africa and Peru.
Under Fr. Tyson’s leadership, Fatima Retreat House was rededicated as a community house for retired and active religious and La Porte Center was developed in La Porte, Ind. He attended the Beatification of Holy Cross founder Blessed Basil Moreau in France in 2007 and the Canonization of St. Andre Bessette, Holy Cross’ first saint, in 2010.
The U.S. Province also began a $30.9 million fundraising campaign in 2008 to support education of seminarians and religious, international missions and health care for elderly Holy Cross priests and brothers. To date, the first phase of the Footsteps Campaign has raised more than $17 million.
Fr. Tyson was born in Gary, Ind., on April 7, 1948. He received a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1970 from the University of Notre Dame, where he also earned a master’s of theology in 1974. Fr. Tyson received a doctorate in higher education administration from Indiana University Bloomington in 1980. He took his Final Vows in 1974 and was ordained at Sacred Heart Basilica at Notre Dame in 1975.
Prior to serving in Provincial Administration, Fr. Tyson worked in administration for Holy Cross’ universities. He served as President of the University of Portland from 1990-2003. During his 13 years at Portland, Fr. Tyson oversaw a major expansion of its campus, a tripling of its endowment and improvement of the University’s national standing. He also served on the Board of St. Edward’s University, the President’s Commission of the NCAA, the NCAA Special Committee on Sports Agents and Amateurism and a number of other religious and academic boards. He was also as a management professor at UP. While Provincial, Fr. Tyson also served on the Board of Regents and was recently elected a Regent Emeritus of the University of Portland.
At the University of Notre Dame he served as Vice President for Student Affairs at Notre Dame from 1984-1990; Executive Assistant to Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C., President of Notre Dame, from 1982 to 1984; and Director of Sophomore Year of Studies for Notre Dame’s College of Business Administration from 1980-82. Fr. Tyson has also served as an Associate Professor of Management in the College of Business Administration, on the staff of Dillon Hall and on a variety of committees for Notre Dame. He has been a University Fellow and Trustee at Notre Dame for 19 years and was also recently elected Trustee Emeritus of the University.
In recognition of Fr. Tyson’s dedication and support of Catholic higher education and his leadership in the Congregation, he received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in May 2012 from Notre Dame during its commencement. The University of Portland also awarded him the Christus Magister Medal, the University’s highest honor, during its commencement. Fr. Tyson’s previously received an honorary degree from Portland. Additionally, the Tyson Distinguished Professorship was established at Portland by gifts in honor of Fr. Tyson. The professorships recognize a career of teaching, scholarship and service to UP.
In his role as Provincial, Fr. Tyson has also served on the Boards of other Holy Cross schools and apostolates: King’s College (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.), Stonehill College (Easton, Mass.), and Holy Cross Family Ministries.
He is also a member of the American Academy of Management and the Conference of Major Superiors of Men and has served on the board of the U.S. Air Force Air University.
A new Provincial Superior will be elected on June 15 by the U.S. Province at its Province Chapter, which runs from June 10 to 22, in Portland, Ore. The new Provincial will become the first elected Provincial of the newly merged U.S. Province.
“I have faith that the Holy Spirit will continue to bless Holy Cross and the U.S. Province by continuing to grow our vocations and inspiring us to teach with zeal as we bring the message of Ave Crux, Spes Unica to the world,” said Fr. Tyson.
Rev. Kenneth M. Molinaro, C.S.C., First Assistant Provincial and Vicar; Rev. Anthony V. Szakaly, C.S.C., Second Assistant Provincial and Steward; Rev. Edwin H. Obermiller, C.S.C., Third Assistant Provincial; and Rev. Thomas P. Looney, C.S.C., Fourth Assistant Provincial, have also served in Provincial Administration.
