Father Richard Hermes, SJ, celebrates 25 years as a Jesuit priest. This year also marks his fourteenth as president of Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida.

A Louisiana native, Fr Hermes is a graduate of Jesuit High School in Shreveport, class of 1981. After attending Loyola University and LSU, he entered the Society of Jesus in 1984 and professed his first vows in 1986.

Following studies in philosophy and classical languages, he taught Latin and Greek at Jesuit High School New Orleans (1991-1994). He studied theology at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was ordained a priest in 1998. He completed his studies in Rome and Jerusalem, earning a licentiate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute.

Father Hermes returned to Jesuit New Orleans as department chair of theology (2000-2005) and school chaplain (2003-2005). After completing tertianship in the Philippines to prepare for solemn profession in the Society of Jesus, he served for more than two years as pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in New Orleans (2006-2008).  He was named president of Jesuit High School of Tampa in 2008 and is completing his 15th year there.

Father Hermes studied at Saint Louis University, where he earned bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and the classics. He also earned a master’s degree in classics from the City University of New York.