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WASHINGTON (February 20, 1997) — Father John E. Hurley, C.S.P., formerly pastor of Old Saint Mary's Cathedral, San Francisco, has been named Special Assistant for Evangelization at the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB).
He succeeds Father Bruce Nieli who held the post for the last three years.
Father Hurley was named pastor of historic Old Saint Mary's Cathedral in 1991. A Paulist priest who has undertaken numerous assignments for his religious order, he currently serves on the Paulist General Council.
The appointment, which is effective March 10, was announced by Msgr. Dennis M. Schnurr, NCCB General Secretary.
"The Conference is fortunate to have obtained the services of Father Hurley for this post," Msgr. Schnurr said. "His entire ministry has been devoted to the study and practice of evangelization and he has proclaimed the word of God with great success. I am grateful to the Paulist Fathers for permitting Father Hurley to accept this position."
Dr. David Byers, director of the Secretariat for Evangelization and Missions, which staffs the Bishops' Evangelization Committee, said "Father Hurley will be strengthing the network linking our diocesan delegates. He will consolidate, consult, and give vision. His zeal for evangelization and his familiarity with evangelization on the diocesan level make him the perfect choice." There are Diocesan Delegates for Evangelization in approximately 170 of the nation's 190 dioceses.
Father Hurley's primary task will be to help the U.S. Bishops further implement their 1992 document on evangelization, Go and Make Disciples.
Born in New York City, John Hurley was raised there and in Huntington, New York. He graduated from St. Joseph College, Jensen Beach, Florida, in 1970 and was professed as a member of the Paulists on September 11, 1971. He was ordained a priest by Terence Cardinal Cooke in New York on May 14, 1977.
Father Hurley earned the BA degree at the Catholic University of America in 1973, and the Master of Divinity degree from Washington Theological Union, Washington, D.C., in 1978. He earned the Doctor of Ministry degree at the Jesuit School of Theology, Berkeley, California, in 1983.
In 1976 the Paulist Fathers sent Father Hurley to Portland, Oregon, for his first assignment, the opening of that city's Paulist Center for Evangelization. He served as Founding Director of the Paulist Center for Evangelization from 1978 to 1984. While stationed in Portland, Father Hurley traveled to all corners of the Northwest, the most unchurched part of the nation, to help other dioceses and parishes in their evangelizing efforts. He also served, from 1977 to 1980, as Associate Pastor of St. Philip Neri Church, Portland.
Father Hurley was Executive Director of Financial Development for the Paulist Fathers in New York from 1984 to 1991 when he was named pastor of Old St. Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco. Old St. Mary's is in the outer region of the city's financial district and at the gateway to Chinatown. Father Hurley has worked to make the church well known as an evangelizing and reconciling parish, while also serving as a Religious Superior and a member of the Paulist General Council.
During his time in San Francisco, Father Hurley has been a member of the Priests' Council and the Archdiocesan Planning Process. He also helped in the development of A Journey of Hope Toward the Third Millennium-The Pastoral Plan of the Pilgrim Church of San Francisco, promulgated by the archdiocese in October, 1996.
Father Hurley is a member of the San Francisco Interfaith Council Board of Directors and the Chairman of its Seismic Safety Committee. He is a member of the Paulist Finance Committee, a charter member of the National Planned Giving Association, and a member of the National Catholic Development Conference. He served on the Board of Directors of NCDC from 1990 to 1995.