Father Kirby has been the Vicar of Vocations for the Diocese of Charleston since early 2010. Prior to that appointment, he received his Licentiate in Moral Theology from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome. He was ordained into the priesthood on July 27th, 2007. His ministry is focused on encouraging discipleship and holiness.
Curriculum Vitae
The Rev. Jeffrey F. Kirby, STL Download a PDF Version
www.frkirby.com
www.charlestonvocations.com
Vocations Office
34 Wentworth St.
Charleston, S.C. 29401
(843) 727-6727
OBJECTIVE: To know, love and serve God in this life, and so be happy with him in the next.
ACADEMIC WORK:
* Master of Education in Secondary Administration, The Citadel: The Military College of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, 2011- present
* Licentiate in Moral Theology, Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome, Italy, 2006 – 2007; 2009 – 2010
Graduated Magna Cum Laude
Concentration in ethics and social doctrine
Tessina: “The Natural Law as Teacher in Public Discourse”
Studies suspended for two-year parish assignment.
* Masters in Bioethics, Pontifical Athenaeum Queen of the Apostles, Rome, Italy, 2006 – 2007; 2009 – 2010
Studies suspended for two-year parish assignment.
* Bachelor of Sacred Theology, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, Italy, 2002-2006
Graduated magna cum laude
Priestly Formation at the Pontifical North American College, Vatican City State
Ordained a Catholic transitional deacon on October 5, 2006, St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City State
Ordained a Catholic priest on July 27, 2007, Columbia Convention Center, Columbia, SC
* Master of Arts in Philosophy, Franciscan University, Steubenville, Ohio, 1999-2001
Graduated cum laude
Thesis: “Homo Pontifex: Man as Microcosm and Frontier Being”
Defense Board: Drs. John Crosby, Michael Healy, and John White
* Bachelor of Arts in History, Franciscan University, Steubenville, Ohio, 1996-1999
Graduated cum laude
Named “Honors Scholar of the Great Books,” for completion of studies in the Great Books of Western Civilization program
Member, Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society
Senior Thesis: “The Historical Development of the Divine Right of Kings”; Advisor: Dominic Aquila, PhD, MMus
LANGUAGES:
Intermediate reading ability in Latin
Intermediate speaking and reading ability in Italian
Beginning speaking and reading ability in Spanish
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
* Vicar of Vocations, Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina, February 2010 – present
* Director, Drexel House: Catholic Residence for Men, July 2011 – present
* Chaplain, Bishop England High School, Charleston, South Carolina, July 2012 – present
* Director, Drexel House, Catholic Residence for Men, July 2012 – present
* Chaplain, Cardinal Newman School, Columbia, S.C., July 2010 – June 2011
* Priest In-Residence, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Columbia, S.C., July 2010 – July 2011
* Parochial Vicar, St. Mary Help of Christians, Catholic Parish, Aiken, South Carolina, October 2007 – September 2009
* Seventh Grade Religion Teacher, St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic School, Aiken, South Carolina, January 2008 – May, 2009
* Adjunct Religion Teacher, Senior Religion Seminar, Cardinal Newman High School, Columbia, South Carolina, August 2008 – May, 2009
* Parochial Vicar, St. Andrew’s, Clemson; St. Paul’s, Seneca; and, St. Francis, Walhalla, Catholic Parish, South Carolina, August – October 2007
* Seminarian, St. Ann’s, Kingstree; St. Philip, Lake City; and St. Patrick, Johnsonville, Catholic Parishes, South Carolina, July – Sept, 2006
* Seminarian, Prince of Peace Catholic Parish, Taylors, South Carolina, July 2004 – April 2005
* Theology Teacher, New Testament and Christian Morality, The Bishop England High School, Charleston, South Carolina, 2001 – 2002
* In Residence: Nativity Catholic Parish, James Island, South Carolina, August – December, 2001
* In Residence: Stella Maris Catholic Parish, Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, January – June, 2002
MILITARY SERVICE:
* Served for six years in the Army National Guard, 1996 – 2002
Received an “Honorable Discharge” upon completion of enlistment
Recipient of the National Defense Service Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Humanitarian Service Medal, and Army Achievement Medal
Activated for “Operation New Horizons,” Summer 1999, Nicaragua
PUBLICATIONS/ MEDIA:
* Co-Host, “Pathways to Rome,” Radio Show, Mediatrix Radio (www.catholicradioinsc.org), 2009-2010
* Co-Author, Becoming Father Bob. Aiken: Signo Press, 2010.
* Author, Encountering the Lord in His Holy Court: A Walk Through St. Peter’s Basilica. Bethune: Signo Press, 2009.
* Contributor, Encyclopedia of Catholic Social Thought, Social Justice, and Social Policy. Lanham: Scarecrow Press, 2007.
Submitted articles on “Pontifical Council ‘Cor Unum’,” “John Cardinal Krol,” and “George Weigel”
* Guest Columnist: The Catholic Miscellany, Charleston, South Carolina; The Post and Courier, Charleston, South Carolina; The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, North Carolina; The Aiken Standard, Aiken, South Carolina
* Homiletic and Pastoral Review:
July 2007 “Full Gospel”; July 2005, “The Ecclesial Priesthood of Jesus Christ,” and October 2004, “The Priest as Confessor”
* The Pontifical North American College Magazine:
Fall 2006 “A Roman Exam Period: Time to Face Facts”; and, Winter 2003 – 2004, “Hallowed Legacies: A Golden Jubilee Celebration”
* Faith: March/April 2008, “The Goodness of the Human Body”; January 2005, “The Analogy of Faith and the Sanctification of Man”; and, July-August 2004, “Personalism in the Social Teaching of John Paul II”
* Columbia: May, 2004, “Blessed Theresa: A Valuable Lesson”
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
* Fellowship of Catholic Scholars
* Society of Catholic Social Scientists
* Named to the Bernardin Committee of the University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, January, 2008 – present
* Vocations Board, Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina, June 2008 – present
* Ecumenical Commission, Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina, June 2008 – June 2011
* Chaplain, Youth Evangelization Team, Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina, August 2008 – June 2011; August 2012-present
RESEARCH AND CONFERENCES:
* Attended the Institute on Interreligious Leadership, Chicago, Illinois, July, 2008
* Attended the Acton University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, June, 2007
* Lived in Perugia (Umbria) with an Italian family for language studies, August, 2003
* Attended the Tertio Millennio Seminar on Free Society, Krakow, Poland, summer, 2003
* Traveled through Turkey, Greece, Egypt, and Western Europe to study the role of religion on civilizations, the influence of monasticism, the history and effects of Islam, and the attempts at religious co-existence in these areas, Summer, 2001
* Lived in Bethlehem with a Christian Palestinian family while researching the influence of religion on culture and the attempts at religious pluralism in the region, Summer, 2000
* Lived in West Germany while father served in the US Military, 1986-1989
TALKS AND LECTURES:
* Panelist, Jewish-Christian Council of Greater Charleston, “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: The Changing Face of Religion in Politics,” Brith Sholom Beth Israel Synagogue, Charleston, South Carolina, November 2, 2008
* Retreat Director, Jesu Caritas Young Women’s Retreat, St. Cecilia Motherhouse, Nashville, Tennessee, October 24 – 26, 2008
HONORS AND AWARDS:
* Received, “Companions on Journey” award of the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry, Diocese of Charleston, May 2011
* Peer-elected to give the New Man Address at the Dedication Anniversary Banquet, Pontifical North American College, Rome, Italy, October 2002
* Peer-elected “Graduate Student of the Year,” Franciscan University, Steubenville, Ohio, 2001
* National Eagle Scout Award, May 1993
INTERESTS AND HOBBIES:
* Traveled across the Atlantic Ocean aboard the Queen Mary 2, September, 2009, and June, 2010
* Completed the Rome Marathon, March, 2007, and March, 2010