Sulpician Father Gladstone Stevens has been named the new permanent president-rector of St. Patrick’s Seminary and University in Menlo Park, Calif.
Father Stevens previously served as an associate professor of theology and vice rector of the seminary.
Archbishop of San Francisco Salvatore Cordileone announced the appointment Feb. 19. He was quoted in an article on the seminary’s website, www.stpatricksseminary.org, saying, “Father Stevens is highly esteemed by many groups in California. Bishops, seminarians, and lay people all respect his preaching and spiritual insights.
“He’s faithful, clear, eloquent, humorous and friendly,” Archbishop Cordileone added. “What more could a seminarian as for in the rector of a seminary?”
The article also said that Father Stevens, “is best known as someone who combines theological knowledge with religious counsel and encouragement. At St. Patrick’s he is regarded as an articulate and engaging professor of dogmatic theology. In California and beyond, he regularly gives retreats, days of recollection and talks especially to priests but also to lay people seeking to deepen their faith.”
Father Stevens was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Louisville in 2000 at age 34. He has since joined the Society of Saint Sulpice, an association of diocesan priests who are committed to “educating, guiding and supporting priests,” according to the society’s website, sulpicians.org.
During an interview with The Record prior to his ordination, Father Stevens said he hoped his extensive education in theology would be put to use after ordination. He had earned an undergraduate degree from Quincy College in Illinois, a graduate degree in Biblical studies at Vanderbilt University and a doctoral degree in theology from Marquette University.
After his ordination, Father Stevens served as an associate pastor. Within a few years, though, he began teaching at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore and in 2007, he earned a licentiate degree in sacred theology while teaching.
He began teaching at St. Patrick’s in 2008, serving as vice rector and academic dean.
Father Stevens plans to spend the summer attending a management seminar for senior administrators of Catholic institutions of higher education at Notre Dame University, according to the article from St. Patrick’s website
