Submitted by the Office of Communications
SYRACUSE — The Conventual Franciscans of Our Lady of the Angels Province and the Diocese of Syracuse are pleased to announce the appointment of Father Gerry Waterman, OFM Conv., as Catholic chaplain at Syracuse University. His ministry will support and embrace the students of Syracuse University and SUNY ESF. Father Waterman will begin his ministry Aug. 1.
Father Gerry Waterman, OFM Conv., has been named Catholic chaplain at Syracuse University. His ministry will support and embrace the students of Syracuse University and SUNY ESF. Father Waterman will begin his ministry Aug. 1. (Photo provided)
Father Waterman has served as the Associate Chaplain for Catholic Life at Elon University in Elon, N.C., since 2005. There, he encountered and built relationships with students, alumni, faculty, and staff through Masses, retreats, faith-sharing and counseling sessions, weddings, baptisms, dinners and socials, intramural sports, service projects, university events, and service trips to South Carolina, Jamaica, and Mexico.
The Diocese of Syracuse and Syracuse University community welcome Father Waterman to his new home and new ministry. The Interim Dean of Hendricks Chapel at Syracuse University, Dr. Samuel Clemence, says, “We are delighted with the appointment of Father Gerry Waterman as Catholic chaplain here at Syracuse. The chaplains, spiritual life group leaders, and staff had the opportunity to meet him on a recent visit to Hendricks Chapel, and we expect he will be a valuable addition and create a vibrant ministry for our Catholic students. I look forward to formally welcoming him to campus and to the staff at Hendricks Chapel.”
Father Waterman was born and raised in New England. A member of the Conventual Franciscan Order, he has been a friar-priest for 31 years. Inspired by St. Francis of Assisi from an early age, he was educated in the seminaries of his Franciscan community in Granby, Mass., and Rensselaer, N.Y. An extrovert, Father Waterman is passionate about people. He has served in numerous capacities in many states on the Eastern seaboard and abroad.
Father Waterman succeeds Father Linus DeSantis, OFM Conv., as chaplain. Father DeSantis passed away Dec. 1, 2015.
