At its January meeting, the Board of the Directors of the Byzantine Catholic Seminary elected Robert Grip as the new chair. Bob spent nearly fifty years in the field of communications, beginning his radio career in 1970 before entering Boston College, where he received a degree in Communications. He earned a Master’s Degree in Journalism from The Ohio State University, then moved into television as a reporter. His experience in Norfolk, Virginia and Mobile, Alabama includes working as a producer, news director, and anchor, the last thirty-four years anchoring his Mobile station’s main evening newscast.
A lifelong Byzantine Catholic, Bob drew on his Slavic background to engage St. Pope John Paul II in conversation twice during the production of a documentary at the Vatican. Later, he returned to Rome with his wife and two daughters for a private audience with the Holy Father.
Bob is now in his second term on the Byzantine Catholic Seminary Board of Directors and is encouraged by the growth in the number of seminarians and other students who attend classes in person and online. Says Bob, “The Seminary offers the perfect setting to discern future service to the Church. I’m particularly encouraged that we are offering education to not only seminarians, but also to Catholics who wish to learn more about the Eastern churches. Generous donors who respond to the Seminary’s appeals and who remember the Seminary in their estate planning continue to sow the seeds of future success for our Church and the faithful we serve.”