Fr. Robert Gonzalez Named Alumnus of the Year

By Carolyn Dinovo

The Pontifical College Josephinum seminary in Columbus, Ohio, is pleased to announce the recipient of its 2022 Jessing Alumnus of the Year Award – Father Robert Gonzalez, resident priest at Saint John the Evangelist Parish in the Diocese of Tucson, and a Josephinum alumnus of the Class of 1978. 

Father Gonzalez is a native of Sierra Vista, AZ. After graduating from Regina Cleri Minor Seminary in Tucson, he arrived at the Josephinum on August 22, 1970. Eight years later, he had completed a BA in philosophy and MA in theology, both summa cum laude. 

Ordained on June 10, 1978, Father Gonzalez served first at the cathedral, then studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where he earned a licentiate magna cum laude and doctorate summa cum laude. From 1989-2005, he taught philosophy at the Josephinum, where, according to Mr. Michael Fry ’85, Josephinum Alumni Liaison, “he instilled in students a love for the Church, the importance of prayer, and a respect for seminary traditions.” 

The much-beloved professor had a way of inspiring in others a love for the seminary’s founder, Msgr. Joseph Jessing, often using his own translations of Jessing’s writings originally composed in German. He translated a majority of the articles in The Spirit of John Joseph Jessing: Priest, Orphans’ Friend, Visionary, a collection of writings and essays published by the Josephinum in 1999.

Recipients of the Jessing Alumnus of the Year Award are recognized by the Josephinum for their service to the Church and community, and for their support of the seminary and its mission in the spirit of Msgr. Jessing. 

Father Gonzalez was present to receive the award from Rector/President Very Reverend Steven P. Beseau at the Josephinum’s annual reunion celebration on October 13th. “It is a great joy for me to accept this award,” he said, and asked for “God’s blessings on the seminary, its rector, and all who are part of the Josephinum family.”


Father Gonzalez (right) with Very Reverend Steven P. Beseau, Rector/President of the Pontifical College Josephinum, and Mr. Jason Shanks, President of Our Sunday Visitor Institute and fellow recipient of the Jessing Alumnus of the Year Award. Photo courtesy of the Pontifical College Josephinum. 


Father Gonzalez shares his knowledge of Josephinum founder Msgr. Joseph Jessing – whom he has researched in great depth in both the U.S. and Germany – with fellow alumni during the seminary’s recent reunion. Pictured l-r: Mr. Rod Hartle ’64 of Fryburg, PA; Father Richard Kramer ’66 of the Diocese of Rockford; Father Gonzalez ’78; and Mr. Guy Gallo ’79 of Columbus, OH. Photo courtesy of the Pontifical College Josephinum.