STM celebrates one-hundred years of Catholic chaplaincy at Yale University . This celebration includes a series of archival exhibits in Riggs Study throughout the year, focusing on STM's one-hundred years of Catholic ministry throughout the decades. Exhibits will be paired with a blog each month. Be sure to read along and come visit Riggs Study throughout the school year!

The 1970s saw the start of one of STM’s longest Chaplain tenures—twenty-five years with Fr. Richard Russell. Assistant Chaplain to Fr. Healy ꞌ49 beginning in 1964, and Acting Chaplain in 1966, Fr. Russell was appointed the fourth Catholic Chaplain at Yale University in 1968.

In 1969, Yale became a co-ed campus and STM welcomed its first female Assistant Chaplain a few years later, Sister Mary Ramona Pena, C.S.J., to serve the widening needs of all Yale Catholics on campus.

Under Fr. Russell, STM expanded its hospitality and outreach efforts to students and the wider New Haven community—efforts that flowed from the Chapel out into New Haven as well as into community member's homes. The Golden Center had yet been built, so all programming and worship took place in the red-brick facilities of the Chapel. Fostering a space for students to connect with each other was important to Fr. Russell. As he said in a Yale Daily News article from November 13, 1967, “The church must try to add ‘a community dimension’ to the life of the student.” And indeed, this was a guiding principle that Fr. Russell brought to his ministry throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Students, both undergraduate and graduate, came and participated in weekly folk Masses and had brunch and potlucks together. Fr. Russell, who had spent time studying theology in Rome, was known for teaching his students how to make spaghetti a la carbonara.

The White House, which was located adjacent to the Chapel, was created during Fr. Russell’s tenure. It was an intentional off-campus community for Catholic students to live, study, eat and share their faith together.

As well as connecting with each other, students also spent their time in service to the wider New Haven community—especially tutoring and mentoring children from New Haven’s school system. The early 1970s also saw the beginning of religious education for children at STM. This was an initiative led by the families of STM and backed by Fr. Russell. Bernadette DiGiulian, the program’s first director, sought to create a formation program that was intergenerational and incorporated time at both the Chapel and in community member’s homes.

In 1977, the STM community was struck with tragedy. Richard Herrin, an active member of the community murdered his girlfriend, Bonnie Garland. This left the STM community, and especially Sr. Ramona Pena who he was close to, to minster to him as he stood for trial. Herrin was found guilty of manslaughter and served seventeen years. This murder split the STM community—some thinking Sr. Ramona’s support was warranted, others thinking it was not.

The tragedy of 1977 was followed by 1978—a heavy anniversary year for Catholic’s at Yale. In that year, STM celebrated both the quincentennial of St. Thomas More’s birth as well as the fortieth anniversary of the Chapel’s dedication. St. Thomas More’s birth was celebrated through a lecture series given by Thomas M. C. Lawler, associate professor of English at the College of Holy Cross (Worcester, MA).

Throughout the 1980s, Catholic students at Yale continued to not only deepen their faith by attending Mass, but also by enjoying social events together. Each school year was begun and closed with a picnic and during the school year, students enjoyed game nights and retreats at Mercy by the Sea in Madison. The students would also sponsor and put on dramas together. “Mass Appeal,” written by William C. Davis, was particularly successful.

After a planning session in October of 1983, the Wednesday Soup Kitchen began in November of 1983. Volunteers from the STM community, headed by Paul Kennedy, served guests in the basement under the Chapel. In November 2023, the Wednesday Soup Kitchen will celebrate its fortieth anniversary.

On October 2, 1988, STM celebrated its fiftieth anniversary with a Mass. Fr. Russell retired the following year from his Chaplain duties and Fr. Michael Gosselin was appointed the fifth Catholic Chaplain at Yale University.

You can learn more about Fr. Russell from the QR code under his portrait in the Riggs Study or by viewing it online.

You can also learn more about Fr. Gosselin from the QR under his portrait in the Riggs Study or by viewing it online. 

Works Referenced:

Fr. Russell’s retirement scrapbook. 1989. STM Archives.

First-hand accounts from Bernadette DiGiulian, John Wilkinson and Virginia Wilkinson.

Meyer, Peter. The Yale Murder. Harper & Row, 1982.

Yale Daily News. November 13, 1967. “Chaplains Work to Make ‘Yale Men’ Men.”