CENTER STAFF

Director - Fr. Thomas F. Vigliotta, ofm
Fr. Tom is a native of eastern Long Island where his parents, 6 siblings, 18 nieces and nephews, 13 grand-nieces and nephews live. Prior to joining the friars, he taught middle and junior high school, served as an Assistant Principal and part-time guidance counselor. Fr. Tom entered the formation process with the Franciscan Friars at the age of 30 and was ordained in 1985.

His first assignment was at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Greenville, SC where he served as associate pastor and Director of Religious Ed and the RCIA program. Fr. Tom was also a part-time campus minister to nearby Furman University and one of the few chaplains to the Poor Clare Sisters, also of Greenville.

In August 1989, Fr. Tom was part of a team to bring the Franciscan Ministry of the Word to the Tampa Bay area of Florida, where he and three other friars conducted parish missions and retreats throughout Florida, the Carolinas and surrounding states. Fr. Tom moved to Anderson, SC in 1996 where he continued to travel and give missions and retreats. Over the years, he has ministered to hundreds of parishes.

After 16 years on the road, Fr. Tom responded to Fr. Jack McDowell's invitation to join him in campus ministry at the University of Georgia since he felt close to this ministry because of his previous experience at Furman University in Greenville. He always enjoyed meeting people from so many different places during his years of travel and now the Catholic Center provides a wonderful opportunity to meet people from all over the world, as far away as Korea. He has found the people of Athens, the Catholic Center community and the staff to be very gracious and hospitable in his new life here. Email him at tfvig@bellsouth.net

Campus Minister - Fr. David Hyman, ofm   
Fr. David was raised on a farm in Western New York State, one day graduating from St. Bonaveture Univ. and, initially, before joining the New York Province of Franciscans, studying for the Diocese of Buffalo. Fr. David was ordained in Washington, D.C. in 1960. Thereafter, much of his ministry has been in parochial work and in Campus Ministry in a number of places in the Eastern U.S., as well as two years ministering in a retreat house in New Hampshire. His work in the last 25 years has been largely in the South, namely, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and, now, Georgia. Much of that partnership in ministry has been in traditionally African American parishes and at Tennessee State Univ., North Carolina A & T, and Bennett College. Fr. David has also had considerable experience in prison ministry and Hispanic ministry. He is happy to be included in the ministry at the Catholic Center. Email him at friardlh@yahoo.com.

Campus Minister - Sister Joan Morris, osf
Sister Joan is a native of Pennsylvania and a Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia. She holds advanced degrees from Villanova University and Gonzaga University. She has traveled extensively and lived in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, Africa and most recently, Washington DC. Sister Joan is a pastoral minister at the Catholic Center at UGA. Stop by just to say hello or if you have questions about OCIA, marriage preparation, spiritual direction, infant baptism or anything else. Sister Joan is very interested in all the students in Athens and you will receive a very warm welcome. Office hours at the Catholic Center are 10am to 4pm, Monday through Friday. The phone number is 706.543.2293. Email her at jmorrisosf@bellsouth.net.

Receptionist - Sister Marietta Jansen, acj

Administrative Assistant - Sister Barbara Winkler, msc

Director of Religious Education - Donna Jones (770.725.5957)

Business Administrator - Patty DiPalma

Coordinator of Collegiate Activities - Pam Gauld

Scripture Study - Dr. Milton Lopes (706.543.3804)

Kitchen Coordinator - Joann Penning (706.549.6417)

Coordinator of Liturgical Ministries - Wayne Parrott (706.542.0928)