Fr. John Phalen, MSA President

Father John Phalen was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, October 8, 1947. He was ordained a priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross on April 20, 1974. He attended Stonehill College in North Easton, Massachusetts, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1970; a Master of Theology from the University of Notre Dame in 1973; and pursued additional graduate studies at Fairfield University.

Currently Fr. Phalen is Vice President of the Mariological Society of America, an active member of the Stonehill College Alumni Council, and a member of the Hispanic Ministry Committee of the Congregation of Holy Cross. He is a Faithful Friar of the Cardinal O’Connell Assembly of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus and serves as a member of the Province Investment Advisory Committee of the Congregation of Holy Cross. He has preached missions around the world.

Father Phalen has served as President of Holy Cross Family Ministries since 1996, furthering the work begun by Servant of God Father Patrick Peyton, CSC. Father Peyton, the “Rosary Priest” and Catholic media pioneer, spent 51 years of his priesthood (1941 – 1992) serving the spiritual needs of families, particularly encouraging them to pray together daily, especially the Rosary. Holy Cross Family Ministries, sponsored by the Congregation of Holy Cross, is comprised of Family Rosary, Family Theater Productions, Family Rosary International and the Father Peyton Family Institute.

Father Phalen has been the Vicar for Spanish-speaking for the Latino Community of South Bend, Indiana; Associate Pastor of St. Stephen’s Parish, South Bend; Associate Director of Novices in Waterford, New York; Pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Brooklyn, New York; and Associate Director of Vocations for the Eastern Province of Priests and Brothers.

While serving the Hispanic community in the South Bend area, Father John founded La Casa de Amistad Youth Center, which has served the needs of the Hispanic population for 23 years. Father Phalen has been recognized by the City of South Bend, as well as the NAACP Brooklyn Branch, the Police Department of the City of New York, the Indiana Department of Bilingual Education, and the parishes where he has served. He has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Stonehill College and the Board of Family Rosary, as well as the Provincial Council of his Province. He has served as a leader in various community organizations, such as East Brooklyn Congregations, Central Brooklyn Churches and Brockton Interfaith Community.