Jesuit Ministers

Eric Sundrup, S.J.

Associate Vice President for Mission and Ministry; University Chaplain

Fr. Sundrup works in campus ministry and knows Xavier University well. He is from Cincinnati and is a 2003 graduate of Xavier. Since entering the Jesuits, he has worked in Peru, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Ann Arbor, and Cincinnati. As an undergrad, he studied biology, a field that fostered a love of terrariums and aquariums. Alongside way too many house plants, he cares for a few colorful poison dart frogs in his room at the Jesuit residence. They are named after some famous college roommates: Iñigo, Pierre and Francisco (the first three Jesuits).

Walter Deye, S.J.

Rector, Cincinnati Jesuit Community

Fr. Deye is the Superior of the Cincinnati Jesuit Community which included the Jesuits who live on the campus of Xavier University and the Jesuits who lived next door to St. Xavier High School. He is a proud native of the Westside of Cincinnati. He has lived in Detroit, Boston, Washington, DC, Indianapolis, with a preferential option for Chicago. He has served as the President of both Brebeuf Jesuit in Indianapolis and St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati. He entered the Jesuits in 1966 and was ordained in 1975.

Bob Hurd, S.J.

In addition to being a priest, Robert Hurd, S.J. is a professor of bioethics. He has a medical degree from Creighton University as well as a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of San Francisco, a bachelor’s degree, and doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, and a licentiate from the Jesuit School of Theology at the University of California Berkeley.

Paul Lickteig, S.J.

Pastor, Bellarmine Parish & St. Francis Xavier Church

Fr. Paul Lickteig, SJ currently serves as Pastor for the Jesuit Parish Family (St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel and St. Francis Xavier Church) in Cincinnati, OH. Ordained in 2012, Paul has been actively involved in Ignatian Spirituality for over 20 years, he holds an MA in Pastoral Counseling from Fordham University, as well as an MTS in Ignatian Spirituality, and STL in Systematic Theology from the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, CA. Paul’s pastoral experiences include years working with those recovering from addiction, serving as a prison chaplain, and catechizing people of all ages. Prior to arriving back in Cincinnati in September of 2020, Fr. Paul spent over three years as a retreat director at the Demontreville Jesuit Retreat House in Lake Elmo, MN.

James McCann, S.J.

Jesuit Scholar & Adjunct Professor, Political Science

James McCann, S.J. has a graduate degree in theology from the Jesuit Centre Sèvres in Paris, France, a master’s degree in Russian and East European studies from Yale University and a doctoral degree in international politics from Princeton University. He speaks French and Russian as well as other languages. He first came to Xavier as a Jesuit novice in the late 1960s and returned in 1997 to teach political science and support Xavier’s Peace Studies program. In 2003 he left Xavier to direct the Office to Aid the Catholic Church in Central and Eastern Europe (and the former Soviet Union). Most recently he served as the Catholic Chaplain at the Georgetown Law Center. In 2021, Fr. McCann returned to Xavier University as a Jesuit Scholar in Xavier’s Center for Mission and Identity and teacher in the Department of Political Science.

Bill Murphy, S.J.

Chaplain for Xavier Athletics

Fr. Bill Murphy, S.J., a native of East Lansing, Michigan, entered the Jesuits in 1997. Ordained in 2008, he worked in high school administration and vocations before coming to Xavier in 2022. Whether through Sacramental ministry, hosting groups for dinner, or encounters on the campus's walkways, he cherishes his relationships with Xavier students. As Chaplain for Xavier Athletics, Fr. Murphy attends to the human, spiritual, and leadership formation of Xavier’s 340 student-athletes and is a pastoral presence to the 80 coaches and staff.

Ed Schmidt, S.J.

Jesuit Scholar

Edward Schmidt, S.J. is a Chicago native; he entered the Jesuits in 1960. In 1974, he began serving at Bellarmine and in campus ministry at Xavier University; he was pastor and director of campus ministry here from 1976 to 1982. After that, he worked at several Jesuit publishing offices and in province administration. He returned to Bellarmine and Xavier in October 2019.

Damian Torres Botello, S.J.

Parochial Vicar, Bellarmine Parish

Damian Torres-Botello, S.J., serves as the parochial vicar/local pastor for Bellarmine Chapel Catholic Parish on the campus of Xavier University. Originally from Kansas City, MO, Damian received his master in divinity from the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, a master in social philosophy from Loyola University Chicago, and earned his bachelor of arts in theatre from Saint Mary College in Leavenworth, KS. He has worked in the field of theatre for over three decades as a playwright, actor, and director, concentrating on amplifying marginalized and oppressed voices. He loves movies (especially in the movie theater with a soda and nachos), has a fascination with The Golden Girls, and gives stellar solo concerts of awesome musical numbers while driving from here to there and everywhere.

Matthew Zurcher, S.J.

Campus Minister, CFJ; Adjunct Professor, Philosophy

Matthew joined the Xavier community in 2022 as a campus minister in the Dorothy Day Center for Faith and Justice where he cares for the students’ spiritual and communal formation. His past jobs include being a choral conductor, school bus driver, live-in halfway house manager, death row chaplain, high school English teacher, and a nurse’s aide. Matthew holds academic degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and Loyola University Chicago. He is a connoisseur of ice cream and Phish.