By CatholicPhilly Staff • Posted January 16, 2025

Reverend Christopher Redcay has been named the next Rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary by Archbishop Nelson Pérez, the Archdiocese announced Jan. 16. The appointment formally takes effect July 1, 2025.

“I am overjoyed to make this appointment and have the greatest confidence that Father Redcay will serve with distinction as the next Rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. His leadership capabilities, pastoral nature, and long experience with priestly formation are true blessings for our local Church,” said Archbishop Pérez. “The seminarians, diaconal candidates, consecrated religious, and laity studying and discerning vocations at St. Charles are receiving a true gift who will lead with compassion, wisdom, and deep faith.”

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Father Redcay is currently the Director of Spiritual Formation for Theology Division students at the Seminary and was ordained as a priest for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1989.

In reaction to the appointment, Father Redcay said, “I am honored by the confidence of Archbishop Pérez in appointing me to this most important position at the Seminary. I am blessed to be part of the seminary community which plays a critical role in preparing priests, deacons, religious, and lay men and women for service in the Archdiocese and beyond.”

Following his graduation from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary and priestly ordination, he served in various roles across the Archdiocese including Parochial Vicar at Holy Innocents Parish in Philadelphia, Faculty at Roman Catholic High School, School Minister at Archbishop Carroll High School, Assistant Principal at Archbishop Wood High School, President of Kennedy-Kenrick High School, Pastor of Our Lady of Ransom Parish in Philadelphia, and Pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Malvern.

Referring to his role as pastor of Saint Patrick Parish in Malvern for 12 years, Father Redcay noted its process for planning future growth, through which “I have been inspired and filled with hope for the future of the Church,” he said.

“Our priests and future priests, deacons, religious and lay faithful,” he added, “need also to be inspired and prepared to lead the Church with vision for the future. It is my prayer that I may be a good shepherd in assisting the seminary to continue to be that place which inspires our future priests, thus bringing hope to all of God’s people.”

Father Redcay also completed training in spiritual direction at the Institute for Priestly Formation in Omaha, Nebraska. He has been an Adjunct Spiritual Director and an Apostolate Supervisor at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary for many years, in addition to service on the Seminary’s Admissions Board along Chaplaincies to Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls and the Philadelphia Chapter of Young Catholic Professionals.

Father Redcay will succeed Bishop Keith Chylinski, who has served as Rector since 2022 and was appointed an Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia in Dec. 2023. As Rector, Bishop Chylinski oversaw the Seminary’s transition its longtime home in Wynnewood to the newly dedicated campus in Lower Gwynedd in time for the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year.

Following a plan outlined by Archbishop Pérez last year for the pastoral and administrative responsibilities of the auxiliary bishops, Bishop Chylinski will assume oversight of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office for Catholic Education on July 1, 2025.

“I am filled with gratitude and joy for Father Redcay’s appointment as the next Rector of our beloved Seminary,” said Bishop Chylinski. “I know that he will be a beacon of faith and hope guiding this community towards ever deeper love for Christ and greater service as Missionary Disciples. I am praying for him as he prepares to embrace this new role and look forward to supporting him during the transitional period in the coming months.”