The first ever dean of a combined Regis College-University of St. MichaelöÏÓãÊÓƵapp graduate faculty of theology is the first Eastern-rite Catholic in charge of theology at either school and the first lay person who does not belong to a religious order to hold the top academic job at the Jesuits’ Regis College.

The intellectual muscle of the Canadian Catholic Church has been recalibrated by combining Regis College and the University of St. MichaelöÏÓãÊÓƵapp College into a federation just one year after negotiations between the two Toronto graduate schools began.

By June TorontoöÏÓãÊÓƵapp two pre-eminent graduate schools of theology should be ready to present a united front in the world of advanced scholarship.

For one city to have two Catholic, PhD-granting, graduate faculties of theology might seem an embarrassment of riches. But Regis College and the University of St. MichaelöÏÓãÊÓƵapp College have decided what Toronto really needs is one bigger and better centre for advanced studies in Catholic theology.

For most scientists, the next move after completing a PhD at Princeton University is to join an important research project at a big, prestigious university or institute. Adam Hincks took his advanced degree and experience in scientific cosmology and joined a group that has been investigating the universe for 500 years — the Jesuits.

Erik Sorensen got his first job at 12, shovelling snow for an apartment building in his hometown of Red Deer, Alta. In high school he worked in a grocery store stacking cans and filling up the bins of potatoes.

Jesuits have a long tradition in science and thereöÏÓãÊÓƵapp a good reason for that, says Jesuit lichenologist and ecologist Fr. John McCarthy.

Note: An earlier version of this story indicated that the Scarboro Foreign Mission Society would cease to exist by 2020.The article has been modified to more accurately reflect the Scarboro Missions plans for continuing their apostolate.

With a permanent president in place for the first time in six years, Regis College is poised to become an international magnet for Jesuits and others seeking to study theology in English, according to incoming president Jesuit Fr. Thomas Worcester.