Fr. William “Bill” Watters, SJ, founder of St. Ignatius Loyola Academy, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, and the Loyola Early Learning Center, all in Baltimore, celebrated his 90th birthday on March 1, 2024 with a celebration at St Ignatius Church on March 2, where he was also pastor for a number of years. The Mass and reception were attended by more than 300 friends, donors, former students, school trustees, family members, and Jesuits. Fr. James Casciotti, SJ, provincial assistant for pastoral ministries for the USA East Province and a former pastor at St. Ignatius Baltimore himself, preached the homily in which he recalled the many years of their fruitful collaboration. Fr. Joseph Parkes, SJ, former provincial assistant for secondary and pre-secondary schools, is pictured here with Fr. Watters following the Mass. Fr. Parkes recalled Fr. Watters as Pastor of St Joseph Parish in Benin City, Nigeria, and as an early inspiration for the foundation of Loyola Jesuit College in Abuja, Nigeria. Congratulations were also received from Fr. Chuks Mueme, SJ, former Provincial of the North-West Africa Province.
Click here to read an article in The Baltimore Sun on Fr. Watters’ 90th birthday and his legacy in the city.