Archbishop John C. Favalora, '54 2004 Jesuit Alumnus of the Year Most Reverend John C. Favalora of the Class of 1954 serves as the Archbishop of Miami. Archbishop Favalora attended Jesuit from 1950-1954 and studied for the priesthood at several schools, beginning at St. Joseph Seminary in St. Benedict, Louisiana. At Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, Archbishop Favalora received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy in 1958 and pursued further studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy, where he earned a Licentiate degree in Theology. He was ordained a priest on December 20, 1961 in Rome. He returned to his home diocese of New Orleans and, while serving as Assistant Pastor of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Church from 1962-1970, continued his studies. He obtained his teacher certification from Xavier University in 1965, studied at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and earned a Master in Education degree from Tulane University in 1969. Throughout the 1960s, Archbishop Favalora held positions of increasing responsibility in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, including Secretary to the Archbishop and Vice Chancellor. In addition to his duties at St. Theresa, Archbishop Favalora served as Vice Rector of St. John Prep in 1964 and in 1968 was appointed Principal. He was named Director of the Archdiocese’s Office of Permanent Diaconate in 1971. In 1973, Archbishop Favalora began a six-year stint as Pastor of St. Angela Merici Church in Metairie. In 1979, he was named Director of the Office of Vocations for the Archdiocese. Beginning in 1981, he was appointed Rector/President of Notre Dame Seminary, a position he held for five years. In 1986, Archbishop Favalora was named Bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria, LA and in 1989 was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL. The Vatican appointed him Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Miami on November 3, 1994. Archbishop Favalora serves on the boards of numerous Catholic universities and organizations. Archbishop Favalora was an Honor student while attending Jesuit from 1950-1954 and participated in several extracurricular activities. He was circulation manager of the students’ publication, The Blue Jay, and Vice President of the Sodality. He was also a member of the Philelectic Society and the Altar Servers. Prior to Jesuit, he attended Mater Dolorosa School. Archbishop Favalora was born December 5, 1935. He is the son of Felix J. Favalora and Leona M. Stevens.