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 Fr. Albert Robert Felice-Pace, OP
I was born on the Island of Malta, a small Island in the
Mediterranean. According to the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 28
verse 1, St. Paul was shipwrecked on the Island. One of seven
children, I entered the Dominican Order in Malta after finishing
High School. Ordained as a priest on April 2, 1960, I came to the
United States in 1961 after finishing my philosophical and
theological studies in Malta. I also received a MA from the
University of San Francisco in Adult Religious Education.
My very first assignment was to a parish in Berkley, CA. After just
one year, I was assigned to Los Angeles where I started my campus
ministry career. I served the Catholic community at Occidental
College and I was a part-time Associate Pastor at St. Dominic's
Parish in Los Angeles. At that time, I did not have a clue what was
a Newman Club. But I learned very fast about this ministry and fell
in love with it. I have been working with students and the
university community for 36 years and still love it.
After seven years in Los Angeles, I moved to St. Albert Priory in
Oakland, CA to serve as Director of the Dominican Seminarians. In
1972, I moved to UC Riverside, CA to be the Co-Director of the
Newman Center. After four years of serving the Newman community, I
was appointed by Bishop Straling as Director of Adult Education for
the Diocese of San Bernardino. But my passion was campus ministry.
So in 1980, I went back to campus ministry. I have been serving the
Catholic students, faculty and staff at various Pac-10 campuses. In
1980, I served as Director/Pastor for the university Catholic
communities at Arizona State University, University of Oregon and
the University of Arizona. I love to be in the university milieu. It
energizes me. Now I am excited to continue my campus ministry at
UNLV. I fell in love with the area and I am blessed with a wonderful
group of students. My prayer is that together we will continue to
bring the Gospel to the university community.
Besides serving various campuses, I was very much involved in the
national and regional activities of the Catholic Campus Ministry
Association. I was the first President of the Pacific Northwest
Catholic Campus Ministry Association. For six years I was a member
of the Catholic Campus Ministry Association National Executive Board
and for four years a member of the National Association of Diocesan
Directors of Catholic Campus Ministry. I also served the Western
Dominican Province for five years a member of the Provincial
Council.
On January 7, 1985, I was given the "Charles Forsyte Award" in
recognition for Outstanding leadership in Campus Ministry. On
January 3, 2003, I was recognized by the National Association of the
Diocesan Directors of Campus Ministry for twenty years of service in
that organization.
I love the desert. It grows on you. Coming from an Island, it seems
crazy to fall in love with the desert. But I love the heat and the
cactus and all that the desert offers. I love traveling. Before I
came to UNLV, I went on a trip to Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia,
Singapore and various countries in Europe. My plan is to continue to
travel as long as I am able to do it. I love sports. My first love
is soccer. I follow the English and the Italian leagues. I also like
baseball and American football - my favorite team is the 49ers. Come
to my office to see Jerry Rice's autograph. I love college football.
Pray for me as I try my best to serve the people of God at St.
Thomas Aquinas Catholic community and the Diocese of Las Vegas. Pray
that some benefactor will come to help us fulfill the dream—a Chapel
and a Newman Center for the UNLV Catholic community.
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