Iowa Priest Named Rector of North American College in Rome
WASHINGTON (February 20, 2001) -- Msgr. Kevin C. McCoy, a priest of the Diocese of Sioux City, Iowa who has served on the staff of the North American College in Rome for the past three years, has been named Rector of the North American College.
He succeeds Msgr. Timothy M. Dolan, a priest of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, who has been Rector of the North American College since 1994.
Msgr. McCoy's appointment, by the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education, was announced by Archbishop Daniel A. Cronin of Hartford, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the North American College. The appointment is effective July 1.
In making the announcement, Archbishop Cronin congratulated Msgr. McCoy on his new position and expressed gratitude to Bishop Daniel N. Di Nardo of Sioux City for his generosity in allowing Msgr. McCoy to accept the assignment.
Bishop Di Nardo said: "As an alumnus of the college who returned to work there two years ago, Msgr. McCoy is well equipped to take over full responsibility for this national seminary of the Catholic Church in the United States. His administrative skills were proven in his eleven years as chancellor of Sioux City and now he will exercise his pastoral skills of formation and development."
Msgr. McCoy was ordained in 1981. An alumnus of both the seminary and the graduate house, Casa Santa Maria, of the North American College, he earned a doctorate in moral theology from the Alphonsianum in 1986.
He has been vice-rector for administration at the North American College since last July and previously served for two years as director of the seminary's Institute for Continuing Theological Education, a sabbatical program for priests.
Msgr. McCoy served as Chancellor of the Diocese of Sioux City immediately prior to joining the staff of the North American College in 1998.
Founded by the American Bishops in 1859, at the request of Pope Pius IX, the North American College serves as a residence and house of formation for U.S. seminarians and graduate students in Rome. Pontifical status was granted the college by Pope Leo XIII on October 25, 1884. Students pursue theological and related studies principally at the Pontifical Gregorian University and at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (the Angelicum).