Staff Bios

The Seminary of Our Lady of Providence > Staff Bios

Rev. Albert A. Kenney, S.T.L.

Received a B.S. in Finance from Providence College in 1989.
He was assigned to the Pontifical North American College in Rome in 1990 received his S.T.B./S.T.L. in Spirituality from the Angelicum University.
Fr. Kenney was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of SS. Peter & Paul in Providence in 1994 and was assigned to the Cathedral of Saints Peter & Paul, shortly after. In 1995 he was assigned to St. Mary’s Church in Pawtucket as Associate Pastor.
In 1997, he was assigned Chaplain of LaSalle Academy and in 1998 was assigned Vocation Director as well as Director of Spiritual Formation for the Seminary of Our Lady of Providence while continuing as Chaplain of LaSalle Academy.
In 2002, he became Regional Coordinator for the National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors.
Fr. Kenney was appointed Rector of the Seminary of Our Lady of Providence in May 2004.
In February 2010, Fr. Kenney as appointed Moderator of the Curia and Vicar General of the Diocese of Providence while continuing as Rector of the Seminary of Our Lady of Providence.
Fr. Kenney was named President of the National Association of College Seminaries in May 2010.

Rev. David F. Gaffney, M.Div.

Received a B.A. in History from the College of the Holy Cross in 1981
Worked in Catholic high school education as a teacher, counselor and campus minister from 1981-1996
Earned a M.A. in Agency Counseling from Rhode Island College in 1989; a M.A. in Religious Studies from Providence College in 1995; a M.A. in Biblical Studies from Providence College in 1998
He was assigned to Blessed John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts where he earned a Master of Divinity.
He was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul in 2000.
He served as Assistant Pastor, St. Luke Parish in Barrington from 2000-2004
From 2004-2005 he served as part-time Assistant Pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Bristol and part-time Catholic Chaplain at Roger Williams University, Bristol
He was assigned as Pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Providence in 2005.
In July 2007 he was assigned as Director of Spiritual Formation at Our Lady of Providence and Chaplain at Bishop Hendricken High School, Warwick.

Rev. Timothy Reilly, J.C.L.

Received a B.S. in Communications from Boston University in 1995
He was assigned to the Pontifical North American College in Rome in 1999 and received his Bachelors in Sacred Theology from the Gregorian University
Fr. Reilly was ordained to the Priesthood at the Cathedral of SS. Peter in Paul in 2003.
He returned to Rome and obtained his Licentiate in Canon Law in 2004
From 2003 – 2006, he was associate pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Parish and campus chaplain at The Prout School, both in Wakefield
Since 2006, Fr. Reilly has served as Vice Chancellor of the Diocese and was associate pastor at St. Brendan Parish, Riverside.
Fr. Reilly was assigned to the Seminary of Our Lady of Providence in August 2008 and will serve as Assistant Director of Spiritual Formation while continuing as Vice Chancellor for the Diocese.
In February 2010, Fr. Reilly was appointed Chancellor of the Diocese of Providence while continuing as Assistant Director of Spiritual Formation at the Seminary of Our Lady of Providence.

Rev. Michael J. Najim, M.Div.

Received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville.
He was assigned to St. John Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts and was ordained to the Priesthood in the Cathedral of SS. Peter & Paul in 2001.
June 2001, Fr. Najim was assigned to St. Philip Parish in Greenville.
He was assigned Assistant Vocation Director and Chaplain at RI College in July 2004 and was assigned Vocation Director for the Diocese of Providence in July 2007.
In April 2010, Fr. Najim was appointed Catholic Chaplain at La Salle Academy in Providence while continuing as Vocation Director for the Diocese.

Rev. Gregory P. Stowe, M.Div.

Received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Philosophy from Boston College in 2001.
He was assigned to Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland in 2002 and received a Masters of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Theology with a concentration in Systematic Theology in 2006.
Fr. Stowe was ordained to the Priesthood in the Cathedral of SS. Peter & Paul in 2006.
From 2006 – 2009, he was associate pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Parish and Chaplain at The Prout School, both in Wakefield
He was assigned Assistant Vocation Director and Catholic Chaplain at St. Raphael Academy in Pawtucket in May 2010

Rev. Francis C. Santilli, S.T.B., M.A., D. Min., Ph.D. (Candidate)

Graduated from Our Lady of Providence Preparatory Seminary High School in Providence and from the Seminary College of Our Lady of Providence in Warwick.
He was assigned to the Pontifical North American College in Rome in 1975, received his S.T.B. /S.T.L. in Sacred Theology from the Angelicum University and a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Theology and Counseling from the Pontifical Gregorian University.
Fr. Santilli was ordained to the Priesthood in the Cathedral of SS. Peter & Paul in 1980.
He served as Chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital in Providence and was assigned to St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Woonsocket.
In 1984, Fr. Santilli was assigned Assistant Pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Westerly and in 1987 as Vocations Recruiter for the Diocese of Providence.
In 1988 Fr. Santilli was appointed Spiritual Director of the Seminary of Our Lady of Providence, Associate Director of Vocations and part-time chaplain of St. Raphael Academy in Pawtucket.
Fr. Santilli was assigned Assistant Pastor of St. Cecilia Parish in Pawtucket in 1991 while continuing as chaplain at St. Raphael Academy until 1997 when he was appointed pastor of St. Cecilia parish.
In 1999 he earned a Doctorate in Spirituality and Spiritual Direction from the Graduate Theological Foundation at the campus of Notre Dame University having completed his doctoral course work at Boston College.
Fr. Santilli was appointed pastor of St. Paul Parish in 2004 and served until July 1, 2010 when he was appointed pastor of St. Philip Parish in Greenville and part-time Formation Advisor at the Seminary of Our Lady of Providence.

Rev. Msgr. John Lolio, M.Div.

Received a B.A. in Philosophy from the College Seminary of Our Lady of Providence with minors in English and the Classics
He was assigned to St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore in 1966 and received his Bachelor of Sacred Theology and Master of Divinity in 1970.
Fr. Lolio was ordained to the priesthood at St. Augustine Church, Providence in 1970 and was assigned to Our Lady of Providence Preparatory Seminary as Latin Department Chairman, Director of the Summer School and was elected to the Priests’ Personnel Board for two terms.
In 1977, he was assigned Full time Catholic Chaplain at Bryant College, Smithfield, RI
Fr. Lolio was assigned Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Bristol in 1980 and was elected the Dean of East Bay Deanery for two terms.
From 1992 to the present, Fr. Lolio was assigned to be Pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Church in East Greenwich and was elected the Dean of the West Bay Deanery for three terms. Fr. Lolio also serves as part –time professor Latin at the Seminary of Our Lady of Providence.

Michael D. Hansen, Ph.D.

Dr. Hansen received a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts in 1978.
He worked as a teacher and counselor in the human services field from 1978-1992.
He received an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Rhode Island in 1988 and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Rhode Island in 1992.
Since 1992, Dr. Hansen has served as a licensed Clinical Psychologist in Rhode Island involved in teaching, psychotherapy, psychological assessment, clinical supervision and consultation.
He served as Clinical Director of Spurwink/RI from 1992-2001.
His teaching experience has included part-time adjunct professor assignments at the University of Rhode Island, Bryant University, Roger Williams University and the Community College of Rhode Island.
He was appointed Director of Human Formation and Outreach for the Diocese of Providence in 2003.
He has served as Staff Psychologist at the Seminary of Our Lady of Providence since 2003.