Father Kevin G. Creagh, C.M., Ed.D. appointed Rector and President of Sacred Heart Major Seminary; Father Stephen Burr to join team of priests serving St. Regis Parish

Archbishop of Detroit Edward J. Weisenburger announced today that Father Kevin G. Creagh, C.M., Ed.D., a priest of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) religious order currently ministering outside the Archdiocese of Detroit, has been appointed to serve as the fifteenth Rector and President of Sacred Heart Major Seminary, effective July 1, 2026. Father Stephen Burr, current Rector and President, will continue to serve in his role until June 30, 2026, at which point he will join the team of priests serving St. Regis, St. Owen, Holy Name, and Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs parishes, primarily serving at St. Regis Parish.

Archbishop Weisenburger expressed his gratitude to Father Burr for his many years of dedicated service to the seminary:

“On behalf of the Archdiocese of Detroit and all dioceses and religious orders that partner with Sacred Heart Major Seminary for priestly formation, I’d like to begin by expressing my profound gratitude to Father Stephen Burr, who has served multiple roles on the faculty at Sacred Heart Major Seminary for eighteen years and with great distinction,” Archbishop Weisenburger said. “Part of Father Burr’s best qualifications to serve as rector include his love for parish pastoral ministry, so I am grateful that he has accepted this opportunity to share his gifts with the people of St. Regis Parish.”

In welcoming Father Creagh, Archbishop Weisenburger highlighted his love for priestly formation and extensive experience in Church leadership positions:

“Father Kevin Creagh brings to Sacred Heart Major Seminary his love for priestly formation and lifelong commitment to forming leaders for the Church,” Archbishop Weisenburger continued. “His extensive experience in seminary leadership, diocesan administration, and Catholic higher education give him the expertise necessary to continue the mission of our historic seminary community. I am grateful that he, too, has agreed to share his myriad gifts in this new way, in support of Sacred Heart’s mission of forming hearts and minds to proclaim Jesus Christ.”

Father Creagh expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead a “vibrant” seminary on its mission of forming leaders of the Church:

“I look forward to this opportunity to be of service to Sacred Heart Major Seminary, a vibrant community committed to preparing priests, deacons, laity, and religious for the work of ministry in the New Evangelization,” Father Creagh said “I am grateful to Archbishop Weisenberger for his invitation to consider me for this important role in the life of the seminary and for his wise counsel and fraternal care in my discernment.”

Father Creagh most recently served as the Senior Vice President for Mission Integration at Catholic Health in Long Island. He was ordained as a member of the Congregation of the Mission (the Vincentians) in 1996 and has spent much of his priestly ministry in higher education administration, teaching, and ministerial formation. Prior to his college education, Father Creagh enlisted in the United States Marine Corp and served as an infantryman. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from St. John’s University, NY, and then received his Master of Divinity and Master of Arts degrees from the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, NY. In 2011, he earned a doctoral degree in higher education management and policy from the University of Pennsylvania.

In addition to his role at Catholic Health, Father Creagh has held various positions in higher education administration at St. John’s University, NY, Niagara University, NY, and Christ the King Seminary. He has had the opportunity to be a missionary in Taiwan and has served as the vocations director for the Vincentian Community. He also served a six-year term as the religious superior of the Vincentian Community at Niagara University. His previous leadership positions include President-Rector of Christ the King Seminary, NY, and Vicar for Ministerial Formation, Diocese of Buffalo, NY. Father Creagh currently serves on the Board of Trustees of St. John’s University, NY; the Board of Trustees of Niagara University, NY; the Board of Trustees of St. Joseph’s Seminary, NY; and the Board of Directors of Holy Cross High School, NY.

Father Burr expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve at Sacred Heart and said he was looking forward to returning to his “initial call” to parish ministry:

“I am grateful for the opportunity to have served the Church as the Rector and President of Sacred Heart Major Seminary and in all my roles at the seminary. My 18 years of service on the faculty have been a gift to me and a blessing to my living as a priest of Jesus Christ,” Father Burr said. “By the work of the Holy Spirit, and through the leadership of Archbishop Weisenburger, God has called me once again parish ministry, and I am excited to make this return to God’s initial call in my life. I look forward to sharing how I know and trust Jesus Christ with the people at St. Regis and pray that the last eighteen years of seminary leadership have been a time to refine me to be their priest.

“I look forward to working with Father Creagh and introducing him to the seminary community in the months to come. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus continue to guide our mission and ministry.”

Father Burr has served at Sacred Heart in roles including formation advisor to undergraduate and graduate seminarians, Director of Undergraduate Seminarians, Director of Undergraduate Pastoral Formation, Interim Vice Rector, and Vice Rector beginning in 2017. Alongside his seminary responsibilities, Father Burr has accepted assignments to St. Mary in Wayne and St. John Vianney in Shelby Township, and he served as pastor at Presentation/Our Lady of Victory in Detroit. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2002 and, prior to joining the Sacred Heart community, served as associate pastor at St. Andrew in Rochester, the Church of the Divine Child in Dearborn, and Our Lady of Good Counsel in Plymouth as well as chaplain to Brother Rice and Marian High Schools.

Father Charles Fox will continue to serve as Vice-Rector and Dean of Seminarian Formation.

Sacred Heart Seminary was established in 1919 to form local priests to serve the rapidly growing Catholic population in Detroit and surrounding communities. The community continued to grow through the decades before entering a new phase in July 1988, with the addition of a Graduate School of Theology and adoption of a new name: Sacred Heart Major Seminary. Since its inception, Sacred Heart Major Seminary has enjoyed the financial and prayerful support of diocesan officials, alumni, and the people of the Archdiocese of Detroit. The seminary has responded to the needs of the Church of Detroit and beyond by preparing priests, deacons, and lay men and women to be heralds of the Gospel and missionaries of the New Evangelization.

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