Faculty Bios
The Seminary of Our Lady of Providence > Faculty Bios
Rev. Christopher Mahar
Rector
- Fr. Mahar is graduate of Bishop Hendricken High School, Class of 1988. He earned a B.A. in Philosophy from Providence College in 2000 and received his college priestly formation at Our Lady of Providence Seminary from 1998-2000.
- For his theology studies, he was assigned to the Pontifical North American College in Rome, earning an S.T.B. from the Gregorian University in 2003.
- Fr. Mahar was ordained to the priesthood in June 2004 and served as Assistant Pastor at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in East Greenwich from July 1, 2004 – June 30, 2007 and at St. Mary’s Parish in Cranston from July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008.
- In July 2008 he was appointed Vice Rector of the American College in Louvain, Belgium and completed his S.T.L. in Theological Ethics at the Catholic University of Louvain in 2010.
- He began his assignment as Rector of the Seminary of Our Lady of Providence on July 1, 2011 and is continuing studies for a Ph.D. in Moral Theology.
Rev. David F. Gaffney, M.Div.
Director of Spiritual Formation
- Received a B.A. in History from the College of the Holy Cross in 1981
- Worked in Catholic high school education as a teacher, counselor and campus minister from 1981-1996
- Earned a M.A. in Agency Counseling from Rhode Island College in 1989; a M.A. in Religious Studies from Providence College in 1995; a M.A. in Biblical Studies from Providence College in 1998
- He was assigned to Blessed John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts where he earned a Master of Divinity.
- He was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul in 2000.
- He served as Assistant Pastor, St. Luke Parish in Barrington from 2000-2004
- From 2004-2005 he served as part-time Assistant Pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Bristol and part-time Catholic Chaplain at Roger Williams University, Bristol
- He was assigned as Pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Providence in 2005.
- In July 2007 he was assigned as Director of Spiritual Formation at Our Lady of Providence and Chaplain at Bishop Hendricken High School, Warwick.
- In December, 2010, he received a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.
- In December 2011 he earned a Master of Arts in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University.
Rev. Timothy Reilly, J.C.L.
Assistant Director of Spiritual Formation
- Received a B.S. in Communications from Boston University in 1995
- He was assigned to the Pontifical North American College in Rome in 1999 and received his Bachelors in Sacred Theology from the Gregorian University
- Fr. Reilly was ordained to the Priesthood at the Cathedral of SS. Peter in Paul in 2003.
- He returned to Rome and obtained his Licentiate in Canon Law in 2004
- From 2003 – 2006, he was associate pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Parish and campus chaplain at The Prout School, both in Wakefield
- Since 2006, Fr. Reilly has served as Vice Chancellor of the Diocese and was associate pastor at St. Brendan Parish, Riverside.
- Fr. Reilly was assigned to the Seminary of Our Lady of Providence in August 2008 and will serve as Assistant Director of Spiritual Formation while continuing as Vice Chancellor for the Diocese.
- In February 2010, Fr. Reilly was appointed Chancellor of the Diocese of Providence while continuing as Assistant Director of Spiritual Formation at the Seminary of Our Lady of Providence.
Rev. Michael J. Najim, M.Div.
Vocation Director and Formation Advisor
- Received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville.
- He was assigned to St. John Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts and was ordained to the Priesthood in the Cathedral of SS. Peter & Paul in 2001.
- June 2001, Fr. Najim was assigned to St. Philip Parish in Greenville.
- He was assigned Assistant Vocation Director and Chaplain at RI College in July 2004 and was assigned Vocation Director for the Diocese of Providence in July 2007.
- In April 2010, Fr. Najim was appointed Catholic Chaplain at La Salle Academy in Providence while continuing as Vocation Director for the Diocese.
Rev. Francis C. Santilli, S.T.B., M.A., D. Min., Ph.D. (Candidate)
Formation Advisor
- Graduated from Our Lady of Providence Preparatory Seminary High School in Providence and from the Seminary College of Our Lady of Providence in Warwick.
- He was assigned to the Pontifical North American College in Rome in 1975, received his S.T.B. /S.T.L. in Sacred Theology from the Angelicum University and a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Theology and Counseling from the Pontifical Gregorian University.
- Fr. Santilli was ordained to the Priesthood in the Cathedral of SS. Peter & Paul in 1980.
- He served as Chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital in Providence and was assigned to St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Woonsocket.
- In 1984, Fr. Santilli was assigned Assistant Pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Westerly and in 1987 as Vocations Recruiter for the Diocese of Providence.
- In 1988 Fr. Santilli was appointed Spiritual Director of the Seminary of Our Lady of Providence, Associate Director of Vocations and part-time chaplain of St. Raphael Academy in Pawtucket.
- Fr. Santilli was assigned Assistant Pastor of St. Cecilia Parish in Pawtucket in 1991 while continuing as chaplain at St. Raphael Academy until 1997 when he was appointed pastor of St. Cecilia parish.
- In 1999 he earned a Doctorate in Spirituality and Spiritual Direction from the Graduate Theological Foundation at the campus of Notre Dame University having completed his doctoral course work at Boston College.
- Fr. Santilli was appointed pastor of St. Paul Parish in 2004 and served until July 1, 2010 when he was appointed pastor of St. Philip Parish in Greenville and part-time Formation Advisor at the Seminary of Our Lady of Providence.
Rev. Msgr. John Lolio, M.Div.
Part Time Latin Professor
- Received a B.A. in Philosophy from the College Seminary of Our Lady of Providence with minors in English and the Classics
- He was assigned to St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore in 1966 and received his Bachelor of Sacred Theology and Master of Divinity in 1970.
- Fr. Lolio was ordained to the priesthood at St. Augustine Church, Providence in 1970 and was assigned to Our Lady of Providence Preparatory Seminary as Latin Department Chairman, Director of the Summer School and was elected to the Priests’ Personnel Board for two terms.
- In 1977, he was assigned Full time Catholic Chaplain at Bryant College, Smithfield, RI
- Fr. Lolio was assigned Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Bristol in 1980 and was elected the Dean of East Bay Deanery for two terms.
- From 1992 to the present, Fr. Lolio was assigned to be Pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Church in East Greenwich and was elected the Dean of the West Bay Deanery for three terms. Fr. Lolio also serves as part –time professor Latin at the Seminary of Our Lady of Providence.
Michael D. Hansen, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist
- Dr. Hansen received a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts in 1978.
- He worked as a teacher and counselor in the human services field from 1978-1992.
- He received an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Rhode Island in 1988 and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Rhode Island in 1992.
- Since 1992, Dr. Hansen has served as a licensed Clinical Psychologist in Rhode Island involved in teaching, psychotherapy, psychological assessment, clinical supervision and consultation.
- He served as Clinical Director of Spurwink/RI from 1992-2001.
- His teaching experience has included part-time adjunct professor assignments at the University of Rhode Island, Bryant University, Roger Williams University and the Community College of Rhode Island.
- He was appointed Director of Human Formation and Outreach for the Diocese of Providence in 2003.
- He has served as Staff Psychologist at the Seminary of Our Lady of Providence since 2003.