John Patrick Comiskey:

Father John Comiskey is a native of Chatham, Ontario. After his early education in Chatham, he entered St. Peter’s Seminary in London in 1974, graduating from King’s College and the University of Western Ontario with a BA in 1977 and a Master of Divinity in 1980. He was ordained a priest of the London diocese in 1981 and began his pastoral work in the diocese, in the parishes of St. Benedict’s in Sarnia, Holy Cross in London, Holy Rosary in London, and St. Gregory the Great in St. Clair Beach. For a time, from 1984 to 1990, he was also director of priestly and religious vocations.

In 1995, he left parish work and began studies in Rome. He received a Masters and a Doctorate in Church History from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 1997 and 1999 respectively. His graduate research centred on the early years of south-western Ontario, the establishment of the diocese of London and Bishop John Walsh, the second bishop of the diocese. For his thesis, he wrote a biography of Bishop Walsh, concentrating on the bishop’s years in London. He is continuing his research on Bishop Walsh with a view to publishing his dissertation.

At present, Father Comiskey is Professor of Church History and Patristics at St. Peter’s Seminary, where he also acts in the capacity of a formation advisor, a spiritual director, the Registrar of Theology, the Director of the Pastoral Year, and the Vice-Rector. He is a member of the Canadian and the American Catholic historical associations. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Irish Benevolent Society in London, and the Fanshawe Chorus London. In addition, he chairs the editorial committee which is overseeing the writing of the history of the diocese of London, in preparation for the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the diocese in 2006. He is a chaplain for the London Fire Department.

In his spare time, he enjoys historical novels, movies, restaurants and sunsets at Grand Bend.