Meet the Jesuits

St. Anthony’s is blessed to have the priests of the Jesuit Community at Fairfield University as partner who preside on a rotating basis at our liturgies.

John Mulreany, S.J.

TEXT TO COME

John Savard, S.J.

Fr. John Savard, S.J., was born in Fairfield and grew up in Easton as a parishioner of Notre Dame of Easton. After graduating from Fairfield University in 1978, where he encountered Jesuits who “lived life fully,” he felt called to enter the Society of Jesus.

Fr. John currently serves as Director of Campus Ministry at Fairfield University. He also teaches in the Doctoral Program in Education and an undergraduate course titled Finding God in All Things. “My students are searching,” he says, “and I really enjoy walking with them—whether in the classroom, on retreat, during immersion trips, or at our Sunday Masses, which are really hopping.”

Since becoming director, Fr. John has witnessed significant growth in campus Mass attendance. (At St. Anthony’s, he often presides at Saturday evening Mass or the 8:00 a.m. Sunday Mass so he can also serve the University community.)

In addition to his undergraduate degree from Fairfield University, Fr. John holds a master’s of divinity from the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, and a doctorate in Education from the University of San Francisco. He has taught at the University of San Francisco, Holy Cross University, and Loyola University, Maryland.

Fr. John appreciates the community at St. Anthony’s. “I feel we share a common spirituality and ethics of social justice. A number of members have backgrounds at Jesuit schools or with Ignatian Spirituality. I feel that we speak a similar language and I try to bring some humor to my homilies, and the congregation responds approvingly.”  

Kevin O’Brien, S.J.

“I’m grateful for St. Anthony’s welcome to me over the last couple of years and look forward to working together as we continue to find creative ways to share the joy of the Gospel and witness to Pope Leo’s call to advance reconciliation in our church and our world.” 

Fr. Kevin O’Brien, S.J., currently serves as Executive Director of Fairfield Bellarmine, an innovative two-year associate degree program on Fairfield University’s Bridgeport campus.

Born in Canada and raised in South Florida, Fr. Kevin practiced law and taught high school before entering the Society of Jesus in 1996. As a Jesuit, he has taught business law, philosophy, ethics, and theology at several institutions. He also has a long-standing association with the Jesuit Refugee Service, advocating for migrants and refugees around the world.

Fr. Kevin is the author of the award-winning book The Ignatian Adventure: Experiencing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius in Daily Life, now in its second edition. His second book, Seeing with the Heart: A Guide to Navigating Life’s Adventures, continues to introduce readers to Ignatian spirituality.

He has taught and served in administrative roles at St. Joseph’s University, Georgetown University, and Santa Clara University, and has served on the boards of Marquette University, Seattle University, and Fordham University. He currently serves on the board of Catholic Charities of Fairfield County.

Ron Perry, S.J.

“I am struck by the joy and sense of community expressed by so many parishioners at St. Anthony’s, as well as the caring outreach to those who are suffering and in need.”

Fr. Ron Perry, S.J., was born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island. He earned degrees in Philosophy from Boston College, German from Middlebury College, and Divinity from the Weston Jesuit School of Theology. Drawn to religious community life and a ministry in education, he was ordained in 1976.

Most of Fr. Ron’s Jesuit ministry has been in secondary education. He currently serves as Chaplain at Fairfield Prep, where he especially enjoys celebrating the Eucharist, offering the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and accompanying students in their spiritual lives. He also connects with students through his love of sports and photography.

Brett McLaughlin, S.J.

“St. Anthony’s seems comprised of many old friends who bring an animated Christian presence into their neighborhoods and families.”

Fr. Brett McLaughlin, S.J., is from western Massachusetts and Maine. He first sensed a call to the priesthood in eighth grade. After serving as a U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer at RAF Mildenhall, he entered the Jesuit novitiate in Syracuse.

Inspired by Contemplatives in Action by William Barry, S.J., Fr. Brett was drawn to the Jesuits’ integration of deep prayer and effective ministry. During his undergraduate years at the College of the Holy Cross, he became deeply interested in Contemporary Christology, studying theologians such as Karl Rahner, Elizabeth A. Johnson, N.T. Wright, and others.

As a Jesuit, Fr. Brett has taught theology at Cheverus High School in Maine, served as a spiritual director at retreat houses, and ministered at the Church of St. Ignatius in New York City. He is currently Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Fairfield University and a member of several professional theological societies.

Fr. Brett earned his Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Boston College, along with graduate degrees from Fordham University and Santa Clara University. His academic writing appears in the Irish Theological Quarterly.

Outside the classroom, Fr. Brett is an avid listener of WSHU Classical, enjoys Saturdays at Yale and Manhattan, watching Fairfield Stags sports, and writing and visiting old friends.

Gregory Konz, S.J.

“The people at St. Anthony of Padua are the reason I enjoy serving here. There is a joy and enthusiasm for the parish that is truly special.”

Fr. Gregory N. P. Konz, S.J., joined Fairfield University in 2019 and serves as Special Assistant to the Dean of the Dolan School of Business. His work includes teaching, advising, mentoring students in the Company Scholars Program, and serving on numerous academic committees.

Prior to Fairfield, Fr. Greg spent nine years in Washington, D.C., as Treasurer of the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States, the central office for Jesuits in North America. He has also held administrative roles at Regis University, Marquette University, and John Carroll University.

“I enjoy teaching and interacting with students,” Fr. Greg says, “but my administrative duties are my favorite part of my job. What I enjoy most is making life easier for those who love teaching.”

Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Fr. Greg earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Arizona State University. “I didn’t think about being a Jesuit until I began working on my MBA. When I finished it in 1978, I had everything I wanted [but] I realized it wasn’t right for me… I was called to become a Jesuit. There was no ‘Road to Damascus’ moment—I just gradually became aware that this is what God was calling me to do.” He was ordained in 1990.

Fr. Greg holds a Bachelor of Divinity from Melbourne College of Divinity and a Ph.D. in Business Administration from Saint Louis University. He has served on numerous university boards, including Xavier University, Spring Hill College, Marquette University, Regis University, and St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland.