Inauguration of Boston College President John T. Butler, S.J.

Boston College will host the Inauguration of its 26th president, John T. Butler, S.J., with a three-day celebration on October 15-17 that will include academic symposia, an Inauguration Mass, an academic procession, a formal Inauguration ceremony, and an alumni tailgate prior to the BC-Pittsburgh football game.   

Winston Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley, who chairs the Inauguration Planning Committee, said he is working with faculty and administrators to honor the wishes of the new president for a “celebration of the BC community,” which will include students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and trustees, as well as presidents and delegates from other universities, elected officials, and representatives from the Society of Jesus and the Catholic Church.

“This will be Boston College’s first presidential inauguration of the 21st century, and I appreciate the many ways in which friends from across and beyond campus are working to plan October’s events,” said Quigley. “Fr. Jack has made it clear that this will be a chance to come together as a community to reflect on what we have built together. I look forward to celebrating his inauguration and imagining BC’s bright future.”

The Inauguration celebration will begin on October 15 at 1:30 p.m., in Robsham Theater with the first of two academic symposia titled “The Light Shines Through: The Catholic Intellectual Tradition.”

Moderated by Quigley, the event will feature Donna Carroll, President of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities; Robert Dowd, C.S.C., President of the University of Notre Dame; Mary Ann Dillon, R.S.M., former President of Mount Aloysius College; and Brian Shanley, O.P., President of St. John’s University, with each presenter sharing insights on how the Catholic intellectual tradition is reflected through the charisms of particular religious orders.

It will be followed by a second symposium titled, “Jesuit, Catholic Education at Boston College: Formation for Wisdom and Hope.”

Moderated by Gregory Kalscheur, S.J., Dean of the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, it will feature Jeffrey Bloechl, Professor and Albert J. Fitzgibbons Chair in Philosophy; Andrew Boynton, John and Linda Powers Family Dean of the Carroll School of Management; Mary Crane, Thomas F. Rattigan Professor of English; Ryan Patrick Hanley, Professor and J. Joseph Moakley Chair in Political Science; and Avneet Hira, Associate Professor and Sabet Family Dean's Faculty Fellow in Engineering, each of whom will reflect on the culture of the Catholic intellectual tradition at Boston College, while celebrating BC’s past and harnessing the energy of a new chapter in the University’s history.

The academic symposia will be followed by a reception on Robsham Plaza.

Friday’s events will feature the Inauguration Mass at 10 a.m. in Saint Ignatius of Loyola Church. The Mass, with Archbishop Richard G. Henning presiding representing  the Archdiocese of Boston and diocesan priests, includes principal co-Presiders from various religious orders that have been influential in Fr. Butler’s intellectual, spiritual, and personal growth: Bishop Joel Konzen, S.M., representing the Society of Mary (Marists); Philip Dabney, C.Ss.R., representing the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists); Kenneth Sicard, O.P., representing the Order of Preachers (Dominicans); Raymond Dlugos, O.S.A., representing the Order of Saint Augustine (Augustinians); and Robert Reiser, S.J.,  representing the Society of Jesus. Adam Zielonka, O.C.S.O., representing the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (Trappists), will serve as the Cross-Bearer for the Mass.

Brief readings from Jesuit and Boston College history will take place beginning at 2 p.m. in front of Gasson Hall, followed by an academic procession from Linden Lane to Conte Forum featuring University Trustees, BC faculty, and presidents and delegates from colleges and universities throughout the country.

The Inauguration ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. in Conte Forum, and will feature speakers representing the BC academic community, the Board of Trustees, the Society of Jesus, the Catholic Church, and public officials, as well as musical performances by students. Fr. Butler will then receive the University medallion and charter from University President Emeritus William P. Leahy, S.J., before offering his inaugural speech as president.

A public reception will be held from 4:30-6:00 p.m. on the Lower Campus Lawn, followed by a Campus Celebration on the Gasson Quad and Stokes Lawn from 6:00-8:30 p.m.

Saturday’s events will include an alumni tailgate prior to the 12 p.m. football game vs. the University of Pittsburgh.

The academic symposia, Mass, procession, and Inauguration ceremony will be livestreamed and accessible via the Inauguration website. Additional details regarding Inauguration events will be posted on the website as they become available at www.bc.edu/inauguration.