Basilian Priest-Teacher Suspended in Houston – Canadian Connections, Sylvia's Site, February 20, 2013

Basilian Priest-Teacher Suspended in Houston – Canadian Connections

Sylvia's Site
February 20, 2013

http://www.theinquiry.ca/wordpress/2013/02/20/basilian-priest-teacher-suspended-in-houston-canadian-connections/

A Basilian priest in Houston, Texas, Father Jack Hanna, has been suspended following an allegation of “misconduct.”

Dear Alumni,

This weekend, the Basilian Fathers were contacted by the Archdiocese

of Galveston-Houston and informed that there is an allegation of

misconduct against Fr. Jack Hanna, C.S.B.. The allegation involves an

adult who is neither a student nor an employee at St. Thomas High

School. At the direction of the Superior-General of the Basilian

Fathers, while this matter is under investigation, Fr. Hanna will not

be engaged in teaching or any priestly ministry. Please keep the St.

Thomas community in your prayers during this time, Yours in Christ,

Fr. Kevin Storey, C.S.B

I don’t as yet know if Father Hanna ever actually served in Canada (I don’t think so), but I do know that, according to the Houston Chronicle, in 1956-57 Father William Hodgson Marshall taught Math and coached Basketball at St. Thomas High School in Houston, Texas.

I also know that, following the death of Father Leo Campbell, a Basilian obituary noted that Fathers Jack Hanna and Leo Campbell and others were ordained in 1974:

Others ordained in 1974 include Robert Barringer, Robert Glass, Jack Hanna, Robert Moslosky, Douglas Mosey, Thomas Sepulveda, Norman Tanck, and the late Richard Killaire.

And, more to the point, according to the University of St. Thomas Undergraduate Catalog 2005-2007, part-time professor Jack Hanna csb attained his MDiv at the University of St. Michael’s College in 1973.

Jack Hanna, CSB, 1973. Spanish. BA (1967) University of St. Thomas; MDiv (1973) University of St. Michael’s College; MA (1973) Stephen F. Austin State University.

The University of St. Michael’s College, a Basilian-founded and operated university, is in Toronto, Ontario.

So, yes, there are Canadian connections to this breaking story, more than one.

Indeed, we can add to that the fact that Father Kevin Storey, the Basilian priest who dispatched the news to St. Thomas High School alumni, was born in India but raised in Canada. He attended St. Michael’s College School in Toronto and joined the Basilians after graduation. He was ordained in 1992. He attained an MA from Assumption University (Windsor, ON) and a Masters of Divinity from University of St. Michael’s College, Toronto, Ontario.

Because the Basilians are an international order now headquartered in Toronto it is not unusual at all to see Basilians from the States serving in Canada and vice-versa. In fact, it would not surprise me in the least to find out that Father Hanna is here in Canada, somewhere.

Some more information on Father Jack Hanna...

According to the University of St. Thomas website, Father Jack Hanna graduated from UST in 1967 and over the years has, amongst other things, taught at UST, served as head of Campus Ministry for nearly 30 years, led groups of students to Merida, Mexico each summer, and taught at St. Thomas HS:

The Vincent J. Guinan Distinguished Alumni Award will be presented to the Rev. Jack Hanna, CSB, class of 1967, and his sister, Carol Hanna McCann, class of 1976. Since graduating from UST, Father Hanna has taught Spanish at UST and also currently teaches at St. Thomas High School. He has served on the UST board of directors representing the Basilian Fathers. More than 34 years ago, Fr. Hanna initiated the study abroad program in Mérida, Mexico, leading a group of UST students there each summer. He has also directed Sigma Delta Pi, the National Spanish Honor Society for nearly 30 years. For much of the 1970s and 80s, Fr. Hanna was the head of Campus Ministry.

Here’s another article regarding trips to Mexico, this from the University of St. Thomas Star View, 28 April 2008

President Ivany, Fr. Hanna Represent UST in Mexico

Dr. Robert Ivany and The Rev. Jack Hanna CSB, traveled to Mexico City on April 14 to 15, to give a UST recruitment presentation to principals of Catholic and private high schools as well as to university professors from the area. The trip was organized by RoseMary Salum, adjunct professor of modern and classical languages. During the trip, Dr. Ivany and Fr. Hanna visited the sites including the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

I received news of Father Hanna’s suspension on Sunday past. I tried on Monday (18 Feb) to get further information, both from someone at St. Thomas HS and from someone at the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. No luck. I left messages on answering machines: no call backs that day.

Yesterday I tried again. Again I left messages – at day’s end no call backs.

I did get through to the Chancellor’s office yesterday. I wanted to find out if Father Hanna ever served in Canada – I was told by that the archdiocese does not keep track of the assignments of ordered priests (i.e., those belonging to an order such as the Basilians or Jesuits) once the priest leaves the archdiocese. I also want to know (1) have the parents of St. Thomas HS students been advised of Father Hanna’s suspension? and (2) the nature of the allegations of “misconduct,” and more specifically are these ‘historic’ allegations, meaning that the complainant is now an adult, but the allegations date to a time when the complainant was a child?

I was told my message would be passed on to the bishop who was at that time in a meeting. The bishop in this instance is Auxiliary Bishop George Sheltz, the Vicar general and Chancellor of the archdiocese. No call back by day’s end.

There is not a word out about this. As far as I can tell, all is quiet. Nothing on the Archdiocese’s website. Ditto St. Thomas HS website. Hush. Hush. It all seems so eerily, well …. Canadian!

Some final questions:

(1) What exactly is the nature of the allegations which prompted the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston to suspend Father Hanna?

(2) Is this priest a threat to children and/or vulnerable adults?

(3) Where is Father Hanna now?

(4) Are the police involved?

I will get this into the hands of someone in the States who is more familiar with the archdiocese and can deal with it better there than I can from up here in Canada.

Enough for now,

Sylvia