Father Thomas (Tom) Rochford, SJ, a Jesuit teacher, artist and communicator, this year celebrates six decades in the Society of Jesus. He has spent his career explaining the life and mission of Jesuits and helping to guide the communication apostolate of the Society of Jesus. He headed the communication office of the Missouri Province (1985-1994), the U.S. Jesuit Conference (1994-1999) and the Central and Southern Province (2009-15). He served as Father General’s assistant for the communication apostolate (2000-2009). In these positions, he edited magazines, created videos and websites, and served as a consultant.

Father Rochford entered the Society of Jesus at St. Stanislaus Seminary in Florissant, Missouri, in 1964. He completed his first studies at Saint Louis University, earning a bachelor’s in philosophy in 1970, and did his theology studies at the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, where he earned a Master of Divinity in 1976. Fr. Rochford earned a master’s in communications and design from the Pratt Institute in New York in 1983.

Since his return to his hometown of Denver in 2015, Fr. Rochford has continued to serve, this time as a teacher and chaplain at Regis Jesuit High School, where his paintings of five Jesuit figures now grace the walls of Tradition Hall.