On July 15-16, we were blessed by a visit by two priests from the Order of Preachers, the Dominincans, founded by St. Dominic in 1216. Fr. Adrian Patrick McCaffery, OP and Fr. James Pierce Cavanaugh, OP celebrated Mass, heard confessions, and shared an inspiring mission talk entitled Mysteries and Messengers: The Angels and the Rosary. Video and photos of the event are posted below, along with the bios of the two priests.
Fr. Adrian Patrick McCaffery, OP, is a friar of the Province of St Albert the Great. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2021, and completed his doctorate in Philosophy in 2024 under Eleonore Stump at Saint Louis University, focusing on the metaphysics of God and Aquinas’s doctrine of divine simplicity. At present, he is a Professor of Philosophy at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome, where he teaches metaphysics, philosophical anthropology, aesthetics, and the classical languages. His research primarily engages Aquinas’s philosophical theology in dialogue with analytic philosophy, and he is also overseeing the collection of Fr. Lawrence Dewan’s complete essays for a multi volume set. In addition, he serves as an editor for the Angelicum journal.
Fr. James Pierce Cavanaugh, OP, was born and raised in Indianapolis, where he attended Catholic schools through high school. He studied Sports Broadcasting at Indiana University, but discerned a call to serve the Gospel with the Dominican Friars, redirecting his communication talents to ministry. Ordained as a priest in 2021, he has served as an Associate Pastor at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Madison, WI and high school chaplain at Fenwick High School in Oak Park, IL. Now transitioning to full-time itinerant preaching, Fr. Cavanaugh is committed to promoting the spiritual richness of the Rosary, inspiring others to embrace its practice and benefits.