INDIANAPOLIS—Marian University (marian.edu) announced today that Father Barry Fischer, C.PP.S. has been hired to serve as campus chaplain. Fr. Barry joins Marian from Saint Joseph’s College (Rensselaer, Ind.) where he most recently served as Rector. His official start date at Marian University is March 1, 2019.
As campus chaplain, Fr. Fischer will be responsible for promoting a vibrant sacramental life on campus; supporting the growing practice of Eucharist Adoration; collaborating with the Campus Ministry team to promote the spiritual growth of all students, and; promoting the Catholic faith tradition throughout university life. Additionally, Fr. Barry will support the recently announced Saint Joseph’s College of Marian University – Indianapolis, a mission-based collaboration he helped establish when Rector in Rensselaer.
Born in Columbia, Penn., Fr. Fischer entered the minor seminary of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood in 1960. He studied philosophy at Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Ind., and, following graduation, began his missionary life in South America. He completed his theological studies at the Pontifical Catholic University in Santiago, Chile and was ordained a priest there in 1973. He served in various ministries in Chile for 20 years. In 1989, he moved to Guatemala to care for the congregation’s seminarians. That same year he was elected to the position of General Councilor for his community and in 1995 was elected the Superior General of the Missionaries. He served two terms as Moderator General of the worldwide Congregation from 1995-2007. He then moved to Salzburg, Austria where he lived for 10 years, establishing an International Center for Precious Blood Spirituality. Fr. Fischer returned to the U.S. to serve as vice president for mission and ministry at Saint Joseph’s College, and was named Rector of Saint Joseph’s College when the institution suspended operations in 2017.
“Fr. Barry Fischer brings a wealth of experience to Marian University,” Adam Setmeyer, vice president of mission and ministry, said. “The extensive time he spent serving in Latin America, as well as Superior General of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, will prove invaluable to our efforts. I am thrilled that Fr. Barry will be joining our Marian University community, and all that he will bring to our community.”
About Marian University Indianapolis
Founded in 1937, Marian University is proud to be the only Catholic university in Indianapolis and central Indiana. In 2018, Marian is serving 2,400 undergraduate and 1,160 graduate students earning degrees in the arts, business, education, engineering, math, medicine, nursing, ministry, and the natural and physical sciences. The university’s high-impact, experiential curriculum is designed to provide hands-on, collaborative learning opportunities for students from 45 states and 23 nations. Marian climbed in U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Midwestern rankings to be named #10 Most Innovative Regional University, #24 Best Value University, and #38 Best Regional University. Marian University opened its College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2013, making it the first new school of medicine in the state of Indiana in over 110 years. Marian’s national champion varsity athletic programs include the 2012 and 2015 NAIA Football National Championship, the 2016 and 2017 NAIA Women’s Basketball Championship, and more than 40 USA Cycling national championships.
