Fr. Anthony Ciorra

VP for Mission Integration, Ministry and Multi-Cultural Affairs at Sacred Heart

Fr. Anthony Ciorra was ordained a priest in 1973. His experience has included parish life, teaching, administration, retreat work, preaching, and formation ministries. He has graduate degrees in psychology, history, and pastoral theology, and a certificate in Spiritual Direction. He has a Ph. D. in Theology from Fordham University.

His publications include Everyday Mysticism, a book about spirituality in the marketplace and he co-authored Moral Formation in the Parish, a work about living Christian and moral values on the world. The spirituality written about in these works is reflected in his involvement in lay ministry formation and secular institute movements. He has produced audio and video presentations on Thomas Merton, the History of Christian Spirituality, the Spirituality of Vatican II, Gratitude, the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous for Everyone, the Seven Great Schools of Christian Spirituality, A Retreat with Pope Francis and the Cloud of Unknowing. He edited the book, Vatican II: A Universal Call to Holiness  on the occasion  of the fiftieth anniversary of the Council. His most recent publication is: Beauty: A Way to God  (Paulist Press, 2013).

In recognition of his ministry in the Church, he was given the pontifical honor Pro Eccelsia et Pontifice by Pope John Paul  II in 1999. He was awarded the Caritas Centennial Award in 2000 for his work in lay ministry and the Spirit of Renew Award for his work in interreligious dialogue and ecumenism.

He is currently  the Vice President for Mission Integration, Ministry and Multi-Cultural Affairs and Professor of Theology and Catholic Studies at Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Connecticut. Previously. He was Dean of the Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education at Fordham University, Director of the Center of Theological and Spiritual Development at the College of St. Elizabeth and the Director for the Center for Spiritual Development in the Archdiocese of New York. He gives workshops and retreats throughout the United States, the Middle East, and Europe. He is actively involved in creating programs for inter-religious dialogue among Jews, Christians, and Muslims.