Patrick A. Fairbanks, SJ, Chicago Province

Fr. Pat Fairbanks comes from a large Catholic family of 14 and hails from Cincinnati, OH.  He attended Miami University in the early 70s earning a degree in education.  He taught English and religion for many years in Catholic schools in Ohio and even a few years in the Republic of Singapore.  He enjoys traveling, photography, astronomy, outdoor camping, country and classical music.

Moving from the classroom to youth ministry, Fr. Fairbanks worked with young people for seven years in faith formation, retreats, and campus ministry.  Inspired by the Jesuits in Cincinnati, he was led to enter the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus in 1989.  Fr. Fairbanks completed his eleven-year Jesuit training in philosophy, classical languages, and theology, and served as an administrator at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati.  He also taught English in Krakow, Poland as a service to young Jesuits in Eastern Europe.  Ordained a Jesuit priest in 2000, Fr. Fairbanks led student activities and campus ministry at St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago.  He most recently traveled to Bolivia and Peru as part of his Spanish language training and tertianship experience, and served as a jail chaplain near Pontiac, Michigan.

In 2006 he was missioned as the Director of Vocations for the Chicago Jesuits.  Fr. Fairbanks pronounced his final vows as a Jesuit on the Feast of the Annunciation 2009 and was assigned as Rector of the Jesuit Community at St. Ignatius College Prep.  He now serves as the Director of Vocations for the Chicago and Detroit Province Jesuits.