Father Thomas Rosica is a priest of the Congregation of St Basil (Basilian Fathers). He was born in 1959 in Rochester, New York, USA. He attended elementary and secondary school in Rochester. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Italian and French Language and Literature from St John Fisher College in May 1980.
Father Rosica was ordained a priest in the Congregation of St Basil on 19th April 1986 in Rochester. He holds advanced degrees in Theology and Sacred Scripture from Regis College in the Toronto School of Theology, 1985, the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, 1991, and the École Biblique et Archéologique Française de Jérusalem, 1994.
In June 1999, he was appointed by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops as Chief Executive Officer and National Director of the World Youth Day and the Papal Visit of Pope John Paul II, that took place in Toronto in 2002.
On 1st July 2003, Father Rosica became the founding Chief Executive Officer of Salt and Light Television, Canada’s first national Catholic Television Network. On 1st December 2011, he became President of Assumption University in Windsor, Ontario, a position that he holds today in addition to his leadership of the Salt and Light Catholic Television Network.
Father Rosica has received significant awards from: the Italian Government for his promotion of Italian culture and heritage; from the State of Israel, for his promotion of interfaith relations and Catholic pilgrimage; and the Jubilee Medal from Queen Elizabeth for his work with young people.
In 2003 he received the Papal Award “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice” from Pope John Paul II for his leadership of World Youth Day 2002.
Friday 15th June
