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Bidinger, Bruce M. (Father)

February 23, 2016

Jesuit Father Bruce M. Bidinger, of the Jesuit Community at Saint Joseph’s University, died on Feb. 23, 2016, after a courageous struggle with illness.

Bidinger, Bruce M.

Jesuit Father Bruce M. Bidinger, of the Jesuit Community at Saint Joseph’s University, died on Feb. 23, 2016, after a courageous struggle with illness.

Born in 1952 in Baltimore, Maryland, Fr. Bidinger moved to New Jersey before returning to Baltimore for his collegiate studies at Loyola University. He entered the Society of Jesus at Wernersville, Pennsylvania, in 1977. He studied philosophy at Saint Louis University and theology at the Weston School of Theology in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  He was ordained to the priesthood in 1986.

After ordination, Fr. Bidinger taught at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., and at Georgetown Preparatory School. He also served as principal of Scranton Preparatory School. Following an assignment as the Philadelphia Area Jesuit Vocations Director, he became president of St. Joseph’s Prep.

Fr. Bidinger regularly served part-time in many of the parishes where he lived and worked. He was very well known within the Society of Jesus as an Ignatian spiritual director. He served as the Vice President for Mission and Ministry at Saint Joseph’s University, as well as chaplain of the men’s basketball team. He was respected by all as priest, associate and friend. Fr. Bidinger’s most recent assignment was director of the Haub School of Business Advising at Saint Joseph’s University.

Fr. Bidinger is survived by his father, Floyd and stepmother Betty; a brother Neil and sister Kathleen; also by two nephews, Christopher, and his wife Kathy, and Tyler and Marine.