About Father John Catoir

   Father Catoir was the Director of The Christopher's from 1978 to 1995 and in that capacity hosted the nationally syndicated weekly television series Christopher Closeup which is seen on over 60 commercial and 400 cable systems woriclwide.

   Born in New York City, he graduated from Fordham University School of Business in 1953. After two years in the United States Army, he entered Immaculate Conception Seminary in Darlington, New Jersey, and was ordained a priest in 1960. He earned his Doctorate of Canon Law from Catholic University in Washington, DC in 1964.

    From 1963-1973 he was chief Judge in the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal, and from 1973 - 1978 he was the Clergy Personnel Director for the Diocese of Paterson.

   Father Catoir holds honorary doctorates from four universities. He has been president of three different national organizations: The Catholic Press Association, The Association of Catholic TV and Radio Syndicators and the National Association of Church Personnel Administrators.

   He has written ten books including tbe best sellers, Enjoy the Lord and God Delights in You: An Introduction to Gospel Spirituality He is a syndicated columnist for over 100 publications.

   He is a recipient of the St. Francis de Sales Award for outstanding contributions to Catholic journalism, the highest award conferred by the Catholic Press Association; and the Daniel J. Kane Award for Religious Communication frorn the University of Dayton. in1995, a scholarship was named in his honor at the Fordham University School of Communications.