Augustinian Priest to Join Campus Ministry

North Andover, MA (May 28, 2008) – The Augustinian Order of the Eastern Province of the United States, which sponsors Villanova University (Philadelphia, PA) and Merrimack College (North Andover, MA), has assigned Rev. William Waters, O.S.A. as a campus minister at Merrimack College beginning August 2008.

As a campus minister, Fr. Waters will counsel and guide students at all points in their relationship with God and faith including retreat experiences, daily liturgy, sacramental preparation, interfaith prayer, and forums for discussing Catholic theology and how it impacts issues of today.

About Rev. William F. Waters, O.S.A.
Fr. Waters, O.S.A. is a native of Philadelphia, Penn. After graduating from St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., he joined the Augustinian Community. He received a master’s degree in education (Villanova University, 1968); a master’s degree in theology (Washington Theological Union, 1971); and was then ordained a Roman Catholic Priest on August 28, 1971. He first served as Parochial Vicar at St. Augustine Parish in Lawrence, Mass. (1971-75); then as Vocation Director for the East Coast Augustinians (1975-79); and as Director of Students at Augustinian College in Washington., D.C. He returned to Lawrence as pastor of St. Augustine Parish (1984-93); was the Vicar for the Lawrence Vicariate (1991-93); served as pastor of St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish in Jamaica, NY (1993-97); and St. Mary-Inmaculada Concepcion Parish in Lawrence (1997-04), which in 2001 was named one of the 300 excellent parishes in the country by The Parish Congregation Study team led by Paul Wilkes. On August 6, 2004, Fr. Waters became pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Methuen and Lawrence, a position which he currently holds.

Fr. Waters is a Trustee of the Lawrence Public Library; Chaplain of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 8; Chaplain of the Lawrence Police Department; and a member of the Board of St. Anne Home in Methuen. He was named Irishman of the Year in 2004 by the Hibernians, and named the Grand Marshall of Lawrence’s 2006 St. Patrick Day Parade. He has authored three published articles: “Helping Couples Avoid Divorce” (Today’s Parish, April/May 1994), “Marriage Preparation Comes Too Late” (Today’s Parish, Nov. /Dec. 1990), and “Spiritual Guidance in Family Settings” (The Priest, March, 1981).