Bouchard to Resign as Aquinas President

The Rev. Charles E. Bouchard, president of Aquinas Institute of Theology, announced his resignation Wednesday. He will leave the Catholic seminary on Jan. 1, 2008, after 18 years as president.

Bouchard, 55, said his announcement came now because "the school is in a relative position of strength." He said other factors — his own desire to do something different and a current pool of qualified candidates to replace him — led to his decision.

Aquinas, which is run by the Dominican order, is one of two Catholic seminaries in St. Louis. It differs from Kenrick-Glennon, the St. Louis Archdiocese's seminary, in that lay men and women study alongside members of religious orders and candidates for the priesthood. Kenrick-Glennon trains men to become priests in the archdiocese.

Bouchard's successor will be named in early April and will work alongside him for the rest next year, according to the Rev. Michael Mascari, head of the Dominicans' Midwest province.