February 9, 2019

Holyoke native named third president of St. Thomas High School in Houston

REGIONAL
Staff report

 

SPRINGFIELD – Basilian Father James Murphy, a native of the former Holy Cross Parish in Holyoke, has been named the third president of St. Thomas High School, a Catholic school for young men in grades 9-12. It was founded in 1900 and is located in Houston.

According to a press release on the website of the Congregation of St. Basil, Father Murphy was the unanimous choice of the St. Thomas Board of Directors, with the approval of Father Kevin Storey, superior general.

“I’m honored and humbled that there’s a desire from the St. Thomas community to entrust me with this position,” Father Murphy said. “I have great confidence and enthusiasm to partner with our exceptional faculty, staff, students and administrators to fulfill the school’s vision.

“We are committed to excellence in all aspects of campus life while strengthening our strong Basilian values,” he continued. “St. Thomas is here to challenge, support, and care for our students as they develop into men of faith, accomplished scholars, athletes, artists and engaged citizens in their community.”

Father Murphy had served as interim president when Father Storey, the former president, was elected superior general in June 2018.

Father Murphy emerged as the clear permanent choice following an exhaustive six-month search that revealed three finalists. The selection completes a process featuring strategic consulting from the nationally renowned search firm Carney, Sandoe & Associates; a 10-member Presidential Search Committee, chaired by Greg Phillips, ’82; and a cross-section of St. Thomas constituencies – faculty, students, administrators, alumni, and current and past parents.

“We had a strong interest in the position from accomplished candidates from both inside and outside of academia,” Phillips said. “Individuals admired our significant growth over the past decade and respected the St. Thomas intellectual profile.

“Father Murphy has the vision and skills to lead St. Thomas into exciting new opportunities in education and furthering the mission of the school while honoring our rich Basilian traditions,” said Phillips. “This is an exciting moment in the history of St. Thomas. I believe we have identified an outstanding individual to be our next president.”

Father Murphy will now play a significant role in advancing St. Thomas and its continuing focus on innovation, community renewal, and development – all consistent with the school’s Catholic Basilian mission.

“There’s a visceral quality in continuing the essential work of (previous presidents) Father Storey and Father (Ronald) Schwenzer,” Father Murphy said. “Certainly I believe in the importance of preserving our Basilian charism: ‘Teach Me Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge.’ My objective is to empower our entire community to speak to that pursuit so that everyone who participates in the experience can put words to the meaning.”

Father Murphy has lived the Basilian vocation of education for a quarter century and brings a distinguished academic and leadership career. In addition to serving as interim president, he had also served on the Board of Directors, and as a faculty member, assistant dean of students, assistant athletic director, assistant drama director, and in campus ministry.

Father Murphy earned a bachelor of arts in communications/journalism from St. John Fisher College, Pittsford, N.Y., in June 1994; a master of divinity degree in 2001 from the University of St. Michael’s College in Toronto, Canada; and his master of education degree from the Lynch School of Education at Boston College University in 2016.