Christ the King Seminary names first Executive Director

As the Diocese of Buffalo continues in its Journey in Faith and Grace, the strategic planning initiative to outline the future of the Church in Western New York, Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora has also been involved in a strategic planning process to help respond more fully to the needs of the diocese for the formation of its ordained and lay ministers.

As part of this process, Bishop Edward U. Kmiec, bishop of Buffalo, has announced plans to move the Office of the Diaconate to the seminary as well as to incorporate the function of the Office of Church Ministry into the structure of the seminary administration. Church Ministry will also move from the Catholic Center in downtown Buffalo to the seminary.

During the review of moving these offices to the seminary, the administrative structure of the seminary was examined in an effort to be more responsive to the needs of the diocese.

As a result of this examination, Father Richard W. Siepka, president and rector of the seminary, has appointed Michael Sherry as the first executive director of operations for Christ the King Seminary. Sherry, who had been assistant to the academic dean at the seminary, will now serve as chief operating officer for the seminary and will assist Father Siepka in addressing the full range of the seminary level policy and administrative issues. Sherry will be taking care of the day-to-day operations of the seminary allowing Father Siepka to spend more time working with the seminarians and taking a greater role in the public relations efforts of the seminary, especially in terms of development and recruitment.

“I am so happy that Mr. Sherry has accepted this position that will strengthen the work of the seminary,” Father Siepka said. “This will allow me to spend more time working with our seminarians, collaborating with our friends and benefactors and dealing with other important issues that I have been asked to address as president and rector of the seminary.”

A former assistant chief of police with the Orchard Park Police Department, Sherry holds a master of science degree in service management from Rochester Institute of Technology, a master of divinity degree from Christ the King Seminary, and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in the biblical field at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.

“I spent 25 years learning how to serve the needs of others as a police officer. God-willing, I hope to spend another 25 years serving the needs of the Church in whatever way I am afforded the opportunity to do so,” Sherry stated.

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