Jesuit High School of Tampa - Convocation - Fr. Richard C. Hermes, S.J. - 8-12-24

After an extraordinary 16-year tenure as president of Jesuit High School, Fr. Richard C. Hermes, S.J. announced his resignation on Aug. 12, 2024, effective in three weeks on Sept. 1. He shared the news directly with the Jesuit student body at Convocation that morning.

The longest-tenured president in school history by several years, Father is being reassigned by the Jesuits U.S. Central and Southern Province, of which Jesuit High School is an apostolate.

Jesuit’s Board of Trustees has begun making plans for the transition to new leadership, and Jesuit principal Mike Scicchitano will serve as Acting President.

Father’s tenure at Jesuit has been marked by phenomenal successes in all facets of the school, and remarkable growth and development. On the morning of Aug.12, as Jesuit High School embarked on its 125th year of forming young men in the Tampa Bay area in the 476-year tradition of Jesuit education, he made a special announcement to the faculty and staff, and then to the student body at Convocation. The school then emailed a message from Father to the greater Jesuit school community. The beginning of that message is below; the entire message can be viewed at www.jesuittampa.org, or on the Facebook page Jesuit High School of Tampa:

Dear Parents, Alumni, and Friends of Jesuit,

I am writing to make you aware of important news that I shared with the faculty, staff, and student body this morning. After much prayer and considerable deliberation with the Provincial, I have announced to the Board of Trustees that I will be stepping down as President of Jesuit High School, effective September 1st of this year.

I became President of Jesuit High School in May of 2008 and have now served for more than 16 years, the longest tenure of a President in Jesuit’s history. For me, these have been years of tremendous fulfillment and joy. Many cherished memories have been flooding into my mind these past several days. People, events, accomplishments, celebrations, and occasions of gratitude. I am most grateful to God for the opportunity to serve at Jesuit with its strong and widely regarded sense of Catholic mission and identity. It has also been a privilege to work alongside talented colleagues from whom I have learned a great deal. Jesuit has experienced significant growth and enjoyed great success in many areas of school life. That success is the accomplishment of numerous people – on and off campus – working together. Above all, though, it begins with our exceptionally dedicated faculty and staff.

In recent years we have met several challenges in dealing with the pandemic and the reopening after the lockdown, and in making the transition to new leadership in the school. In meeting these challenges, and growing through them, Jesuit seems to me to be stronger than ever. The ongoing work of advancing our Strategic Plan, regularly revising and enacting the Campus Master Plan, and seeing the Antinori Center for the Arts to completion in the wake of Covid have been fulfilling but demanding tasks. During the past couple of years, in fact, I have been in conversation with the Provincial about possible new assignments. After significant discussions this summer, we agreed that now was the right time. Stepping down now gives me the opportunity this school year for a much-needed sabbatical to rest and re-charge before my next full-time assignment. During the sabbatical, I will be assisting with our retreat ministry in Saint Louis on a part-time basis.

Obviously, the Board of Trustees has begun making plans for the transition to new leadership. As the Board begins the search, and following the school’s established Succession Plan, our Principal, Mike Scicchitano, will serve as Acting President. Mike is extraordinarily capable, knows Jesuit as well as anyone, and will have tremendous support and assistance from many capable administrators and Trustees. The Jesuit fathers and scholastics on campus will continue to play a vital role, supporting Mike in his duties, by their religious presence and sacramental ministry.
For myself, I am very grateful to be on campus until the Labor Day weekend in my usual capacity. This will give me the opportunity to assist with the opening of school, be present for the kickoff of our 125th anniversary year, and to ensure a smooth transition. It also allows me to experience one more time the special gatherings, functions, and events that are customary at Jesuit as a new year begins. It is important to me in these coming weeks that we keep the focus where it should be, on the students and the school.

While I will not be able to visit personally with everyone, I want to thank all of you now for your support, friendship, and prayers along the way. I assure you of my daily prayers going forward and will remember the school community regularly as I offer Mass.

With abundant gratitude for your past and ongoing support of Jesuit,

I remain yours in Christ,

Rev. Richard C. Hermes, S.J.