Rev. Phil Florio, S.J., a popular campus figure and beloved administrator, said Friday that he has been ordered to leave Fordham in June after spending five years at Rose Hill.
“I did not seek this out,” he told The Fordham Ram. “This was a summons that was given to me.”
Florio, assistant vice president of Mission and Ministry, was assigned by the Jesuit Provincial Superior in Maryland to become the next pastor of Old St. Joseph’s Church in Philadelphia, the newspaper reported.
He said that while it has long been a dream of his to lead the Philadelphia church, it is not the timing he would have preferred.
“You get what you pray for,” Florio said. “But not on your own time.”
Florio, who is originally from Philadelphia area, ultimately considers this move to be a homecoming.
“[Old St. Joseph’s] is 3.5 miles from where I grew up,” Florio said. “It’s the closest I’ll ever be to home as a Jesuit… It’s bittersweet. But I’m going home.”
Fordham President Rev. Joseph McShane, S.J. has been known to heap praise on Florio for his contributions to campus.
“His drive and enthusiasm has energized Campus Ministry, and his willingness to innovate has brought record numbers of students to celebrations of mass and to ministry events,” McShane told Fordham Daily last May.
“He is at once a leader, a friend and a counselor.”
Connor Ryan
John Bonazzo
Fordham Daily 
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