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Fr Quigley,

The ladies on the Board that you have been having lunch with have enjoyed every minute of our gatherings. It is so uplifting to be in your company. Your incredible recall and intellectual curiosity is still going strong.

Thank you for being a role model of God’s love for 60 years. May you have many more! God bless you!!

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As a PC transfer student back in 1986, I felt a bit like a fish out of water and questioning, among other things, my readiness for college. After having a few classes with one of my CIV professors, Father Quigley, something about him compelled me to reach out. I didn’t know exactly what I was looking for, but for some reason I felt sure that he would.

Father Quigley, of course, welcomed the opportunity to speak with me. Almost immediately, it felt clear that he truly cared and was not just fulfilling an obligation. It didn’t take much time with him before I felt sure that I was in the right place and everything was going to be ok. Somehow, Father Quigley can just sense where the lost sheep are and I was so glad to be brought into the flock.

Over the next 3 years, we had many talks. During my senior year, I told him I was rethinking my plans to continue my education and become a psychologist because one of my department professors did not feel I would be able to reach this goal.  Father Quigley in his sometimes stern voice replied, “Don’t you dare listen to him!” and he convinced me to pursue this dream.  He believed in me enough for both of us and as it turned out, he was right.

Some years later, just after beginning an internship in PA, I received a call that my mother had unexpectedly passed away back in RI. Having a very close relationship with my mom, I was devastated by the news. After checking in on my family, I went straight to Father Quigley’s room at PC. As in every time before and after, he knew and said exactly what I needed to hear. As a psychologist, I hope I have half of his innate ability to help others heal. He provided comfort to me in a way that no one else could and I am forever grateful.

He has been there for my parent’s funeral masses and my children’s christenings and at every crossroad in my adult life, I have felt an unmistakable pull towards Father Quigley. With honesty, humility and grace he is always there to make it make sense and inject some much needed hope. I think of the hundreds of others with very similar stories to my own, who are equally as grateful for the blessing that their life intersected with his. To this day when I’m driving back to Connecticut from one of our visits, I get the same feeling that somehow my soul has been nourished, my faith a little stronger, and everything is going to be ok. You are a gift Father Quigley and although you have commented how our relationship shifted from teacher/student to friends, I prefer to think of you as FATHER Quigley.

Love you and God Bless!

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I am simply blessed to have married a Friar thus honored to have Father Quigley travel to Long Island to marry us. “Sal and Maria, you have come to marry.” Each year we quote this *repeated sentence from his homily. 34 years later it serves as a reminder of our vows and love…. And what it means to marry: … in good times and in bad.

Over the years we have gotten to spend cherished moments with Quigs: a quick lunch on Long Island or at Providence when a few of our children visited during college tour season, a Christmas card or email.

Father Quigley has been there to support us in the loss and illnesses of our parents. He steadily reminded us that our faith will get us through.

I am lucky to be an adopted Friar as a wife, mom and friend to many classmates of Sal’s.

God Bless you Father Quigley. Go Friars

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I met Fr Quigley my freshman year shortly after he transferred to PC from a missionary assignment. We were both from the New York City area, so this became a common bond. He became a great mentor and friend- as well as an inspirational professor.

In 1976 he presided over my wedding and is never far from my wife and my thoughts. # 50 will be celebrated next May!

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For me, it’s impossible to think of my Providence College experience and not think of Father Quigley. He has played such an intrinsic role in the college’s history.

Father Quigley has been a great friend through the good times (Church in Today’s World, the Friday group lunches at the Big East Tournament), and the tough times (he was on the alter for my father’s funeral). Whatever the situation calls for, so many of us have always been able to count on him - while we were in school and long after.

I’m sure we can agree he’s a First-Team All Priesthood selection.

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Dear Father,

Thanks many years ago for just being there when I was a grad student. Thanks for your service of decades - decades - of service in the name of decency and Dominic.

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I first met Fr. Quigley as a freshman in 1990. He was friendly with a fellow freshman's family and he immediately embraced our entire group. There were times that he'd take six or eight of us out to dinner and without us knowing it, he would quietly but decisively give us guidance to keep us on track.

Over my PC years, Quigs and I would sometimes carpool to Long Island where he assisted at a parish during some of the breaks. I so appreciated the conversations and cherished his perspective and advice. He always had such an easy way about him and such a great, dry sense of humor.

While I think about those times often, I'm embarrassed that I haven't been better about staying in touch. Quigs, I will be forever grateful for your support and your friendship - thank you!!

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I met Father Quigley in my freshman year in 1970 at Parent’s weekend. We were in the lower floor of Raymond Hall, where coffee and donuts were served. He came in and met us all. My Dad grew up in the Bronx and he and Father immediately hit it off. Like many others I would find myself in Alumni Hall with a pick up racquet ball or hand ball match or intramural basketball game or intramural softball game on Raymond field against Father Quigley and Father Walsh.

Father Quigley is a Providence College treasure as I have read others say. He is a Good man. I am fortunate to have met him.

Thank you Father Quigley.

To reference your quote in the Fall 2025 "The Last Word” article about being God’s favorite, for me You are my favorite.

God bless you!

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As I was completing the first semester of my senior; I approached Fr. Quigley that I was considering a year of service after graduation. I told him of my intention to apply for a VISTA position and asked if he was aware of other organizations. He would periodically provide the name of an organization which was seeking volunteers. Around March he gave me the Jesuit Volunteer Corp NW. He told me that he just heard of this organization but did not have any information about it. I applied and was assigned to a Catholic elementary school in northern Idaho. I served a second year with Catholic Charities in Spokane WA. This placed me on a path of service for my entire career. As I look back on that time period, I would never have thought this interaction would lead to the career which I experienced. It has been a very rich and rewarding career which would not have occurred without Fr. Quigley's encouragement, guidance and assistance

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My roommate and I would go to Peterson some Saturday mornings after a bit too much fun the night before and would often run into Father Quigley. He was always up for a match and a chat. He would joke that we were sweating out the poison. Great guy, mentor and professor.

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I met Fr Quigley early on in my undergraduate time at PC. We would have him over for dinner regularly to our Oakland Avenue apartment. Through the years he has been a steady and true presence at PC, and I am so fortunate to know him and have the blessing of his writings, homilies and greetings. I can't imagine PC without his guiding hand. God bless you Father Quigley and thank you!!!

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I met Fr Quigley and Fr Walsh my frosh year, of all places, in the gym. While exchanging elbows during a particularly rough pick-up game it wasn’t until getting dressed later did I realize that they were ‘men of the cloth!’ Gulp! Fr. Quigley and the Bedford family have a long history together, spanning now four generations. A friend, teacher, and mentor are just of the few adjectives I can use to describe that relationship. May you keep well my friend.

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I met Fr. Quigley sometime in the late 90’s and subsequently at a bond closing a year or two later. We hit it off immediately, so I asked where the school had been hiding him! We became fast friends and after he met our family, all six of us felt he was special! We lived in Bronxville NY and he would let us know when he’d be helping out in county parishes and all six of us would attend and we’d then take him for breakfast.
After my son graduated in '96, our youngest daughter entered PC in 1997, and knowing Fr. Quigley made her feel even more comfortable.
We now have two grandsons attending PC
and Father Quigley is often in touch with them and taking one or the other to dinner, and he is doing that with a good friend’s daughter and her boyfriend!
Father Quigley has enriched the lives of all the Mulcahys! He is a 24 carat asset to the Dominicans and clearly an extraordinary Priest!
All the members of our family feel that
Father Quigley is an absolute treasure and we are all better off having him as our good friend!
Thank you Father Quigley for everything!!

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I called Fr. Quigley when I lost my faith and reached a kind spiritual despair. I had never met Fr. Quigley, but trusted the "OP" after his name and knew that PC wouldn't give its alumni an uncaring chaplain. So, I called him. We talked. Exchanged some emails. Then talked some more, and met up on campus when I was in town. That was over 4 years ago, and we're still in touch. I'm grateful for his ministry to the faithful and to alumni, and I'm most grateful for his personality, generosity, and friendship.

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Some call him Father Quigley. I always felt special as I got to call him Uncle Jim. He is a man I always tried to emulate. As a small child, I always looked forward to seeing him to hear about his latest travels and I knew he would always have a souvenir for me and my sisters. As sports became important to me as a boy, he would always share stories and autographs from some of the great Friar basketball teams. Thanks to him, I had the honor of going to PC and receiving a degree that prepared me for my career journey. He married my wife and I, baptized my children, been a spiritual guide to me and built wonderful relationships with my family. I know he has touched countless lives through his great work at PC and throughout every stage of his incredible 60 years as a priest. I love him and could not be more proud to call him Uncle Jim!

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As a fellow New Yorker, I was immediately drawn to Father Quigley's approach of sincerity mixed with humor. I was lucky to learn from him as a student and a staff member about my faith and building relationships. But most importantly, he taught me that God is a Yankees fan! Thank you Father Quigley!

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As we celebrate and honor Fr. Quigley I am still in awe of him.

I first met Fr. Quigley as a student at Providence College -- a long time ago. I am a member of the Class of 1976 so he was a young priest.

He was filled with energy, enthusiasm, intelligence and a love for God and others.

I loved his homilies. I loved his passion. I

loved his New York style which was both easy-going and strong.

After college, I worked with him as a volunteer one summer with migrant farm workers in South Carolina. He blessed their cars, ministered the sacraments and brought a sense of love to those who had traveled far to pick peaches.

Recently, I encountered Fr. Quigley when I served on the National Alumni Council at PC. He was the chaplain.

He worked with the same enthusiasm as he wrote articles, preached, set up a prayer line, and highlighted places to pray on campus.

He is truly a man who loves God and others. I thank him for six decades of bringing our beloved Catholic faith and God's love to so many!

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Fr. Quigley baptizing me and my twin brother, who are both currently at Providence! Quigs has been an outlet of faith for me and regularly brings me and my brother to dinner and lunch at the priory when we get sick of ray. Proud of Fr. Quigleys dedication and achievement at Providence and beyond in his past 60 years of service.

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Civ was tough.....we all remember how tough it was.....five days a week, two years.....an absolute grind. I may not remember much of what I learned then but I do remember Father Quigley's lectures. The subject didnt matter but his delivery always kept my attention. He was an excellent lecturer.

During the depths of the pandemic, while stuck at home, I stumbled upon his homilies on YouTube. The timing was perfect. I was starting to feel the isolation of the pandemic and his homilies were a great comfort during a dark time.

Now that our youngest son is at Providence, it means so much to me that he and Father Quigley have connected and have become such good friends. That connection with Father Quigley, bridging 38 years between my son and I at PC, is a testament to Father Quigley's commitment to Providence College and to the man himself.

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Fr. Quigs was my advisor freshman year. I was a bit more interested in having fun than applying myself to my studies. He helped guide me through some tough times that could have gone sideways without his steady hand and advice. He was also just a good friend with a great sense of humor. I will be forever grateful.

Just saying Thank You Fr. Quigs. I love you.

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I met Father Quigley as a freshman at Providence College in 1989. I was introduced to him through my cousins, the Beattys—a big PC family.

Quigley helped student athletes on the lacrosse team, which I was a part of, and he often took Kevin and Meg Beatty (Class of ’87) and myself out for dinner. We’d talk about everything—school, religion, sports, music, books—and Quigley would always joke that taking us to dinner was a “future investment in PC.”

After my junior year, my band, The Bogmen, was offered a management deal by music industry professionals. We decided to go for it.

Telling my parents I wasn’t coming back for senior year was hard enough—but I was even more nervous to tell Quigley. When I finally broke the news, he just said: “Go follow your dream. But promise me you’ll complete your degree one day.”

Fast forward to the summer of 2001: Quigley celebrated my marriage to Kristy Irvine, my high school sweetheart. We were living in the West Village, and Quigley lived on Bleecker Street while preaching at NYU’s chapel. I used to jokingly call him “The Pope of Greenwich Village.”

On September 11th, 2001, Kristy perished in the South Tower of the World Trade Center. I was on the phone with her when it happened. The reality sank in quickly—no rescue worker could have saved her. And at that point, I had nowhere to turn but God. So I ran through Washington Square Park to find Quigley at the NYU chapel.

I was angry—at everything. At God most of all. I wasn’t easy to be around, and I didn’t try to hide that from Quigley. I didn’t let him off the hook just because he was a priest. He became my punching bag. But he never hid, and he never let God off the hook either.

He taught me that death—especially in marriage—is a separation, not an end. He reminded me that some things in life remain unexplainable. That people are good, even when it doesn’t seem that way. And that yes, evil exists—and there will be justice, if not in this life, then in the next.

In the months and years after 9/11, Quigley helped me heal. I’m deeply grateful for all the talks, prayers, meals, walks, concerts, and trips we shared.

We still speak regularly, and once in a while we reflect on those days—mostly in passing—and even find ways to laugh. There were many moments of grace.

I’m forever grateful for our friendship.

But in many ways, he’s more than that.

He’s family.

God bless Quig.

Brendan Ryan

Brendan Ryan

Www.ryanbrosmusic.com

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I took the class principals of moral decisions with Fr Quigley in 1991. It’s one of the most memorable classes that has helped me throughout my life. He was an amazing teacher!

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Fr Quigley was always there to help. We had many discussions regarding practicing religion versus being religious. He would say I missed you at Mass and I told him God was all powerful and knowing and that I was cutting out the middleman and going directly to the boss. He would answer, you need to practice your religion to which I would respond like doctors practice medicine... But when I was going through an unplanned pregnancy at a Catholic school he was a rock with guidance and no guilt or shame. We share the same middle name and our connection was real and honest. We spoke last year on the phone and he's as sharp as ever. I hope to see him at a Friar game this season. Absolutely the best!

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Vincent Ferrer Callahan Jr  Leading alumni family in PC history from 1924 to 2024. 19 graduates from one man. Albert J Callahan. 

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A family friend found out I was interested in Providence. He had attended and was close with Father Quigley so set up a personal tour. I remember walking around campus with Father Quigley on a beautiful spring day. Father Quigley's love for the school was so evident and I left feeling that Providence was the only school for me. PC is so blessed to have Father Quigley as a leader within the community!

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Fr. Quigley / Jim / Quigs is one of my favorite people! Not only did he marry Bill and I, but he baptized our twins Kate & Erin. He has been a constant presence in our lives throughout the years at many family functions. The past 4 years were especially memorable with our youngest daughter Claire attending PC. Now the next generation has a special mentor in Fr. Q. We loved seeing you commencement weekend!

CONGRATULATIONS Fr. Quigley - we love you!

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I met Quig's freshmen year walking across campus. He already knew who I was and where I was from...I thought for sure he was going to bust me for the beer I snuck in my room. My dad went to Aquinas Highschool in Ohio and had Father Scalco as a teacher and Quig's told me he was looking for me and that I should stop by (I believe he called it the "Dog House") the house on campus and visit him. From that moment he was part of my life. I was his best student in Church in Today's World always showing up even when I was at Louie's a little too late the night before class. I have always struggled with change, but Father would call pushing me on and letting me know it was going to be ok. Settling down was particularly scary for me and I can remember the call from Father, prodded I'm sure by my father, that it was time to settle down and marry the love of my life and everything was going to be alright. Father set an audience with the Pope while we were on our honeymoon which was incredible. I can always count on the call from father for life's success's but more importantly I can count on the calls when life throws failure and loss. He has talked me off the floor when business's have failed and helped me understand grief during loss. I am deeply grateful to him. I feel his prayer's everyday and I hope he feel's mine. I hope every person has a Father Quigley in their life.

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I had Father Quigley for Theology freshmen year in Civ. I'll never forget one of the first questions he posed to us which was: What is our destiny? And what does it mean to be a human person? He set many minds in motion that day and continues to do so to this very day. Always remembered you after just one meeting and I was always happy to see him during my years at PC to this day as a graduate. God bless you Father! You're the essence of what makes PC special and sacred ground.

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Father Quigley personifies all that is good about Providence College. He touched the hearts of thousands of students during his career, and continues to share wonderful advice to Alumni via his frequent articles. He was the rock star of Reunion Weekend 2025!

A giant of a man who deserves all of his accolades.

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I had some amazing professors, but Father Quigley had the biggest impact on me personally and spiritually.

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I had the privilege of being taught by some amazing professors, such as Father Milmore and Father Quigley, who had a big impact on me and my faith.

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If I could go back in time and relive a day on campus, it would be the day I was at a football game with my dad and Father Quigley.