Father David S. Ciancimino, S.J., Named Provincial Superior for New York Province of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits)

Father David S. Ciancimino, S.J., has been appointed by Father Adolfo Nicolás, S.J., the newly elected Superior General of the world wide Society of Jesus (Jesuits), as the next Provincial Superior of the New York Province. The New York Province oversees the ministry of Jesuits in New York State, northern New Jersey, as well as the Federated States of Micronesia and other mission territories.

The appointment takes effect July 31, 2008, the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the religious order.

Father Ciancimino, 48, has served as Socius (executive assistant) to the current Provincial, Father Gerald J. Chojnacki, S.J., since 2004. Father Ciancimino will serve a six-year term.

In an interview, Father Ciancimino said, “It is something of an honor to receive such a vote of confidence from our Father General in Rome.  At the same time, the job is one of service, to my fellow Jesuits, who work in so many apostolic works, to the many men and women who work side by side with these Jesuits as our partners in ministry, and to all whom they serve.  It is my hope that our work in the Provincial’s office enables my brother Jesuits and our partners in ministry to be more effective ministers of the Gospel wherever their work takes them.”

A Brooklyn, N.Y., native, Father Ciancimino entered the Jesuits in 1978 and was ordained a priest in 1988. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Fordham University in philosophy and graduate degrees in theology from the Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, MA. After further graduate studies at Canisius College in Buffalo, NY, Fr. Ciancimino received New York State Certification in Secondary Education Administration and Supervision. Before becoming Socius for the New York Province, Father Ciancimino was headmaster at his alma mater, Xavier High School, Manhattan, 1997-2004, and principal at Canisius High School, Buffalo, 1992-97. He previously was a modern language and theology teacher at Xavier and Canisius high schools, a pastoral minister at St. Luke’s Church in Belmont, MA, and co-director of Recruiting and Admissions at Canisius High School.

Father Chojnacki expressed his gratitude to Father Ciancimino “for his generosity to me as my Socius and for his service to the New York Province in that capacity.”  Father Chojnacki said, “I know I am placing the Province into capable hands.  I am grateful to Father General for having appointed Father Ciancimino, and to Father Ciancimino for so graciously accepting this important apostolic role on behalf of the New York Province.”

Father Ciancimino has served terms on a number of boards of trustees, including that of Regis High School and Dominican Academy in New York City.  At present, he is a member of the board of trustees of St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia and Canisius College in Buffalo, NY.  He also currently serves on the Board of Members for Xavier High School in New York City.