Father McGourty endows lecture series on religion

Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, November 23, 2006
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, November 25, 2006

The Rev. Thomas P. McGourty, C.M., a retired professor of religious studies at Niagara University, has established a $100,000 endowment fund to support a lecture series related to “Religion in the Modern World.”

The Henry and Grace McNulty Memorial Lecture Series, which will be presented annually, is named for Father McGourty’s late aunt and uncle.

The series will focus on issues related to religion in the modern world, with preference given to topics of social justice and inter-religious dialogue.

Father McGourty joined the university in 1961 and served in a variety of administrative and student-life positions before assuming full-time teaching responsibilities in the religious studies department in 1975. Over the years, he served as chair of the department on three different occasions. He received the university’s highest honor, the President’s Medal, in 1994 for his many contributions to academic and campus life. In 2003, he received the university’s Medal of Honor for his long and faithful dedication to NU and in recognition of the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.