The Missionaries of the Precious Blood announce the 40th anniversary of the ordination of Fr. Timothy McFarland, C.PP.S.
Fr. McFarland, a native of Ottawa, Ohio, entered the Congregation in 1970 and was ordained on June 18, 1983. He has been involved in education ministry for many years.
After his ordination Fr. McFarland served as associate pastor at St. John the Baptist Church in Whiting, Ind., before he returned to Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Ind., of which he is an alumnus, as the director of formation for C.PP.S. students there and began his teaching career. He earned a Ph.D. in Theology from St. Louis University in 1995.
For 32 years, he was an important part of the life of the college, serving as a professor of religion and associate vice president for academic affairs. He was chaplain and assisted with campus ministry and the college’s athletic program; he served as the chair of the faculty athletic committee for several years.
He also served in leadership with the Congregation as a member of the provincial council.
He ministered as a hospital chaplain from 2017–19 in northwest Indiana. In 2019, he was appointed to parish ministry at Immaculate Conception Church in Celina, Ohio, as parochial vicar.
Fr. McFarland returned to education ministry in 2021, at Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting, Ind., where he continues to teach and is the director mission and ministry, and the college’s theology program, and is the faculty athletics representative.
He serves the Congregation as its director of formation, and has also been active in ministry with Companions.
Fr. McFarland is a scholar who has been in academia for much of his life as a priest, yet has the ability to explore profound theological studies in a way that is accessible to everyone.
He is attentive to those around him, always ready to listen and respond. Even keeled, he is the rare strategic thinker who can go with the flow. His ready smile encourages the people of God to put their trust in him—and there it is well placed.