For Immediate Release
January 16, 2025
Contact: Kenneth A. Gavin
Chief Communications Officer
215-587-3747 (office)
Father Redcay’s appointment is effective July 1, 2025. He will succeed Most Reverend Keith J. Chylinski, who has served as Rector of Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary since 2022 and was appointed an Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia in December 2023.
Today, Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez announced that he has appointed Reverend Christopher Redcay as the next Rector of Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary effective July 1, 2025. Father Redcay is currently the Director of Spiritual Formation for Theology Division students at the Seminary and was ordained as a priest for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1989.
“I am overjoyed to make this appointment and have the greatest confidence that Father Redcay will serve with distinction as the next Rector of Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. His leadership capabilities, pastoral nature, and long experience with priestly formation are true blessings for our local Church. The seminarians, diaconal candidates, consecrated religious, and laity studying and discerning vocations at Saint Charles are receiving a true gift who will lead with compassion, wisdom, and deep faith.
I offer Father Redcay prayerful congratulations as he embarks on this new chapter of his priestly ministry and look forward to the great things that will be accomplished under his leadership.”
In reaction to the appointment, Father Redcay said, “I am honored by the confidence of Archbishop Pérez in appointing me to this most important position at the Seminary. I am blessed to be part of the seminary community which plays a critical role in preparing priests, deacons, religious, and lay men and women for service in the Archdiocese and beyond.”
Referring to his role as pastor of Saint Patrick Parish in Malvern for 12 years, Father Redcay noted its process for planning future growth, through which “I have been inspired and filled with hope for the future of the Church,” he said.
“Our priests and future priests, deacons, religious and lay faithful,” Father Redcay added, “need also to be inspired and prepared to lead the Church with vision for the future. It is my prayer that I may be a good shepherd in assisting the seminary to continue to be that place which inspires our future priests, thus bringing hope to all of God’s people.”
Following a plan outlined by Archbishop Pérez last year for the pastoral and administrative responsibilities of the auxiliary bishops, Bishop Chylinski will assume oversight of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office for Catholic Education (OCE) on July 1, 2025. OCE provides central support to all parish and regional Catholic elementary schools as well as Archdiocesan high schools and schools of special education. Additionally, he will also maintain relationships with Catholic colleges and universities throughout the region. As he has done since his episcopal ordination last March, Bishop Chylinski will also continue to represent the Archbishop to parishes located in Montgomery County.
“I am filled with gratitude and joy for Father Redcay’s appointment as the next Rector of our beloved Seminary,” said Bishop Chylinski. “I know that he will be a beacon of faith and hope guiding this community towards ever deeper love for Christ and greater service as Missionary Disciples. I am praying for him as he prepares to embrace this new role and look forward to supporting him during the transitional period in the coming months.”
As Rector, Bishop Chylinski oversaw the Seminary’s transition its longtime home in Wynnewood to the newly dedicated campus in Lower Gwynedd in time for the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year.
Following Father Redcay’s graduation from Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary and priestly ordination, he began ministry as a Parochial Vicar at Holy Innocents Parish, Philadelphia (1989-1991). He has also served as Faculty at Roman Catholic High School (1991-1994); School Minister at Archbishop Carroll High School (1994-2000); Assistant Principal at Archbishop Wood High School (2000-2001); and President of Kennedy-Kenrick High School (2001-2007); Pastor of Our Lady of Ransom Parish, Philadelphia (2007-2011); and Pastor of Saint Patrick Parish, Malvern (2011-2023).
Father Redcay also completed training in spiritual direction at the Institute for Priestly Formation in Omaha, Nebraska. He has been an Adjunct Spiritual Director and an Apostolate Supervisor at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary for many years, in addition to service on the Seminary’s Admissions Board along Chaplaincies to Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls and the Philadelphia Chapter of Young Catholic Professionals.
Background on Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary
Founded in 1832, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary has been forming men for priestly service in the Catholic Church for 193 years. This year’s current enrollment is 140 seminarians, 71 of whom study for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. In addition, 14 partner dioceses and religious communities from across the country and around the world send their men to the seminary for formation. Thanks to the prayers and generosity of many people, the seminary has been able to continue its mission of forming future priests in service to the people of God and His Church.
For more information, call 610-667-3394 or visit www.scs.edu.
