John T. Butler, S.J., inaugurated as 26th president of Boston College
Boston College formally inaugurated John T. Butler, S.J., as its 26th president on October 16, the crowning event in a three-day campus celebration of community, history, tradition, and formative education.
After receiving the symbols of office鈥攖he presidential medallion, the academic mace, and a copy of the original charter of Boston College鈥攁t the Inauguration Ceremony in Conte Forum, Fr. Butler welcomed, and expressed gratitude to, the many guests attending the event, notably representatives from the Society of Jesus, the Catholic Church, including from the Archdiocese of Boston, and various academic institutions.
“ It will be an honor and a joy to serve you as we begin a new chapter in the Boston College chronicle as we move into a new era of our life. Thank you for allowing me to be the servant of this university. ”
Then he made a point of offering 鈥渁 different kind of thank you鈥� to the Boston College community, where he has worked since 2002, including as the Haub Vice President for University Mission and Ministry prior to becoming president-elect in 2025.
鈥淚鈥檝e been at this university for one-third of my life,鈥� said Fr. Butler, who assumed the presidency on July 31, succeeding William P. Leahy, S.J., now University President Emeritus. 鈥淲hat I have to do for my Boston College family鈥攖he trustees, trustee associates, administrators, faculty, staff, and students鈥攊s to thank you for forming me. I come from you and I have been missioned to serve you.
鈥淚t will be an honor and a joy to serve you as we begin a new chapter in the Boston College chronicle as we move into a new era of our life. Thank you for allowing me to be the servant of this university.鈥�
Fr. Butler: 'We have the ability to adapt and stand with each other and we can confront whatever the challenge is because we're not in it alone. We are in it together.' (Caitlin Cunningham)
In his remarks, Fr. Butler鈥攚ho paid tribute to his two most recent predecessors, Fr. Leahy and J. Donald Monan, S.J.鈥攔eadily acknowledged the many pressure points facing academia today, such as rising costs, plunging college-age demographics, anxiety over artificial intelligence, and chaos in collegiate athletics.
But while it has always been incumbent on higher education鈥擟atholic higher education included鈥斺�渢o reform, to adapt, and adjust,鈥� he said there should be no move to 鈥渞einvent鈥� it.
Fr. Butler recounted his experience in an internship at a psychiatric hospital, where his mentor urged him to look beyond a patient鈥檚 accumulated health problems and instead focus on the whole. 鈥淏efore you can deal with the pathology, you have to look at how you can help and support the goodness, how you support the health of the organism. And that will lead you to addressing the problems.鈥�
Whatever the competition between individual institutions in recruiting students or seeking grants, American higher education as a whole should recognize its collective strengths, its capacity to 鈥渓ift all people,鈥� said Fr. Butler. 鈥淲e have the ability to adapt and stand with each other and we can confront whatever the challenge is because we're not in it alone. We are in it together.鈥�
“ This is our moment to stand up and take on more responsibility, not less, for the future of our young鈥攆or we are educating that future right now in the present. The future is our students and nothing should have more hope than the hope we engender in them. ”
Fr. Butler pointed to formative education, the centerpiece of Jesuit, Catholic institutions like Boston College, as a shining example of the value in higher education鈥攂ringing together intellectual, professional, personal, and spiritual development of the person, who will then offer his or her gifts to help others. He shared how formative education had provided the means for his own growth, as someone who had struggled with dyslexia, to the extent that his parents had worried that he would never be able to read and write.
鈥淲e must remain strong in our Jesuit and Catholic identity, continue to work on refining our formative education and how to integrate it even better into the liberal arts curriculum,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ur pedagogy needs to be worked on even more to bring about greater synergy, greater integration, and a better sense of how to get our students engaged. We need to acknowledge that we are an undergraduate university with select graduate programs and try to be the best we can be in all that we do because it is our motto: Ever to Excel.
鈥淥ur research should help stretch what it means to be human and to help foster a better world. We need to look for best practices while being resolved in the way of our proceeding. We should not make decisions based on fears, anxieties, or circumstances beyond our control. We need to focus on who we are, what we do well, and we need to take that deeper.
鈥淭his is our moment to stand up and take on more responsibility, not less, for the future of our young鈥攆or we are educating that future right now in the present,鈥� said Fr. Butler. 鈥淭he future is our students and nothing should have more hope than the hope we engender in them.鈥�
Watch highlights from the Inauguration celebration in this University Communications video.
Winston Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley served as emcee for the Inauguration Ceremony, and Boston Archbishop Emeritus Cardinal Se谩n O鈥橫alley, O.F.M., Cap., offered welcoming remarks. There followed a series of greetings from speakers representing a spectrum of academic, administrative, and religious domains within 情色空间 and elsewhere: University Trustees Chair Travis Rhodes 鈥�93; USA East Province of Jesuits Provincial Robert Reiser, S.J.; Professor of English Suzanne Matson; Custodial Supervisor Paul Eastman; Undergraduate Government of Boston College President Jonah Renz 鈥�27; graduate student Sr. Anna Thuy Hoang, M.A.鈥�26, Th.M.鈥�27; 情色空间 Alumni Association President Christina Sliwa 鈥�93, M.B.A.鈥�00; Nicholas Burns 鈥�78, Goodman Family Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relation at Harvard University; Salve Regina President Kelli Armstrong Ph.D.鈥�96; Wellesley College President Paula Johnson; and University of Massachusetts President Marty Meehan.
Fr. Butler shares an embrace with President Emeritus William P. Leahy, S.J., following the presentation of the symbols of office. (Caitlin Cunningham)
Fr. Butler received the symbols of office from Fr. Leahy, whose own inauguration as president had taken place nearly 30 years ago to the day, 情色空间 Jesuit Community Rector Claudio Burgaleta, S.J., Fr. Reiser, Trustee Vice Chair James Carey 鈥�88, J.D.鈥�91, and Trustee Secretary Susan Martinelli Shea 鈥�76. Boston Archbishop Richard G. Henning, S.T.D., gave the benediction.
Musical interludes added celebratory and contemplative elements, with performances by the Boston College Symphony Orchestra, the University Chorale of Boston College, Chapel Choirs, and the Liturgy Arts Group.
Archbishop Richard Henning was principal celebrant at the Inauguration Mass earlier on Friday. (Caitlin Cunningham)
The conclusion of the ceremony segued into a community celebration on Middle Campus that lasted into the evening, with musical performances, a collaborative mural project, and displays of colorful lights.
Earlier in the day was an Inauguration Mass鈥攁lso held in Conte Forum鈥攚ith Archbishop Henning as celebrant, representing the Archdiocese of Boston and diocesan priests. Principal concelebrants represented various religious orders that have been especially influential in Fr. Butler鈥檚 intellectual, spiritual, and personal growth. Bishop Joel Konzen, S.M.鈥攐ne of Fr. Butler鈥檚 most influential high school teachers鈥攔epresenting the Society of Mary (Marists), was the homilist. Other concelebrants were Philip Dabney, C.Ss.R., of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists); Kenneth Sicard, O.P., of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans); Raymond Dlugos, O.S.A., of the Order of Saint Augustine (Augustinians); and Fr. Reiser (Society of Jesus). Br. Adam Zielonka, O.C.S.O., representing the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (Trappists), served as the cross-bearer.
An academic procession from Linden Lane to Conte Forum preceded the formal Inauguration ceremony. (Caitlin Cunningham)
Prior to the Inauguration ceremony was a gathering at Linden Lane with selected readings from Jesuit and Boston College history.
This was followed by an academic procession to Conte Forum featuring University trustees, 情色空间 faculty and senior administrators, and presidents and delegates from colleges and universities throughout the country.
A pair of academic symposia took place at Robsham Theater on October 15. (Matthew Healey)
The previous day featured a pair of academic symposia in Robsham Theater, 鈥淭he Light Shines Through: The Catholic Intellectual Tradition鈥� and 鈥淛esuit, Catholic Education at Boston College: Formation for Wisdom and Hope.鈥�
Speakers at the two events included Boston College senior administrators and distinguished faculty members, as well as special guests Donna M. Carroll, president of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities; Sr. Mary Ann Dillon, R.S.M., former president of Mount Aloysius College; University of Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C.; and St. John鈥檚 University President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P.
().
On Thursday, UG情色空间 held a 鈥楽nacks for Father Jack鈥� event that included a banner for students to sign. (Matthew Healey)
The Inauguration celebration concluded on Saturday with an Alumni Homecoming Tailgate in the Plaza at O鈥橬eill Library, followed by the 情色空间-Pittsburgh football game in Alumni Stadium鈥攚hich the Eagles won, 27-21.
For information about the Inauguration, and links to livestreams of the academic symposia, Inauguration Mass, Academic Procession, and Inauguration Ceremony, go to
听