by Stefani Manowski
October 16, 2011

Knoxville, Tenn., Mayor Daniel T. Brown (left) and Police Chief David Rausch (right) pose with Father Charlie Donahue, CSP, after his swearing in as a police chaplain.

A combination of all the best of Paulist ministry. That is how Father Charlie Donahue describes his new ministry as a chaplain for the city of Knoxville, Tenn.

Father Donahue, who serves as pastor of John XXIII University parish at the University of Tennessee, was recently sworn in as a police chaplain after completing a 12-week program at the police academy. The training took place over 12 Saturdays this past summer, which included classes, group discussions and fieldwork.

“There is a tremendous need for community involvement with the police,” said Father Donahue, who is now a member of the International Conference of Police Chaplains, “and part of that is the spiritual care of police officers and their families. The Catholic chaplains also serve as an advisory capacity to the department with regard to Catholic issues.”

Invited by Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch to apply for the program, Father Donahue, a 45-year-old native of Long Island, N.Y, will now ride along with officers one day each month as well as being of service during special circumstances.

“[The ride-alongs] help you get to know the officers and know the city,” Father Donahue said. “We are trained to be a non-liability to the officers – whether it is delivering a death notice or involvement with a crime scene – to know what to do, and what not to do.”

Ministry as a police chaplain deeply accords with the Paulist charism, according to Father Donahue.

“There is a tremendous capacity for outreach,” he said. “We are with people where they are, and on what could be the worst day of their lives to be a listening ear and reconciling presence. A large number of the officers are Catholic, but there are opportunities for ecumenical and interfaith fellowship every day on large and small levels.”

Father Donahue has served in Knoxville since 2009, having previously served as campus minister at the Paulist-run Newman Hall-Holy Spirit Parish at the University of California at Berkeley.

Father Donahue heard the calling to the priesthood early in life, even attending high school at St. Pius X Preparatory Seminary in the Diocese of Rockville Center that is Long Island. He ultimately decided not to pursue the priesthood, and graduated from the Jesuit-run Fairfield University in Connecticut in 1988 with a degree in journalism and information systems.

The future Paulist went into the world of publishing trade and industrial magazines. In his 30s and trying to discern his true calling, he admitted nothing in the world seemed as appealing to me as proclaiming God’s Word.”

Father Donahue eventually met Paulists representing the Paulist Press while attending an industry event in Frankfurt, Germany.

“I didn’t really know that much about the Paulists then,” he said, noting his current service on the board of Paulist Press. “It was a great bridge. Here was a group of priests that did publishing.”

Father Donahue entered the Paulist novitiate in 1999 – “a great way to spend the millennium” – and was ordained in 2005. His first assignment was at Berkeley.

“Secular campus ministry is perfect for what we do as Paulists, and who we say we are,” he concluded.