May 2, 2019 — Last week, Jesuits, benefactors, and friends gathered to honour Golden Jesuit Jubilarians Fr. David Creamer, SJ and Fr. Ovey Mohammed, SJ at the 13th Annual Jesuit Provincial’s Dinner in Toronto.
The event was the first Provincial’s Dinner hosted by the new Jesuit Province of Canada. It also helped raise funds for men in formation for the ministries they will be called to offer the world.
The Mass of Thanksgiving took place at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Jesuit Parish followed by dinner at Le Parc Dining and Banquet Hall.
The Jubilarians
Both Jesuit Golden Jubilarians, Fr. David Creamer and Fr. Ovey Mohammed, have had long and distinguished lines of work in education and social justice.
Fr. Creamer taught chemistry, science, geography, history, and religion at Gonzaga in St. John’s, NL. Later he completed his doctorate in education in Toronto and was sent to Winnipeg. He served as chief administrator at St. Paul’s High School and was then assigned to St. Paul’s College to help establish a small research/teaching centre. He also worked as director of the Jesuit Centre for Faith Development and Values and later as professor of education and religious studies at the University of Manitoba.
In Winnipeg, Fr. Creamer also served as a house coordinator at Quixote House/Massie House, (community housing for federal parolees). His numerous memberships include: member of Jewish Catholic dialogue group; member of Board of Governors, St. Bonaventure’s College; and member of St. Paul’s College Board of Governors. And he has served as part of the board of the Ignatius Jesuit Centre in Guelph, Jesuit Volunteers Canada, Lonergan Research Institute, and Canadian Jesuits International, to name a few.
Fr. Mohammed joined Regis College in 1975 when he became associate professor of systematic theology. From 1979-1981 and 1985-1991, he served as vice-president of Regis College.
His memberships have been extensive including: the Canadian Theological Society; the Theology Dept. Executive at the Toronto School of Theology; Board of Governors and Board of Consultors for Regis College; International Association of Jesuit Ecumenists; Board of Directors, Canadian Jesuit Missions; and many more.
He has also had more than two dozen papers published in journals, and authored the book “Muslim-Christian Relations, Past, Present, Future,” in 1999 which was reprinted in 2002. In 2013, the University of Sudbury conferred an honorary degree to Fr. Mohammed for his academic contributions through his many thoughtful written pieces on interfaith dialogue and the relevance of religion in a modern world.
From 1998 until today, he has served as professor emeritus at Regis College.