July 14, 2026

Father David Griffin Marks 50th Anniversary of Ordination

WHEELING, W.Va., July 14 – Father David R. Griffin, O.S.B., Director of Campus Ministry at Wheeling University, celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood during a Mass on July 9 at St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

Father David joined the Wheeling University in the Summer of 2024. In addition to being Director of campus Ministry, he is the Director of the Father James A. O’Brien, S.J. Center for Service. Since arriving at Wheeling, Father David has immersed himself in all aspects of the University’s culture. 

During Jubilarian Day, Father David, along with other monks affiliated with the St. Vincent Archabbey, were honored for their service as priests. Two Wheeling University employees, Kelly Klubert, Vice President of Advancement, and Chris Richardson, Men’s Basketball Coach, attended the Mass to celebrate Father’s special anniversary.

“We are grateful that Father David is an active and vital member of our campus community. All of us at Wheeling University congratulate Father on this milestone,” said Dr. Dianna M. Vargo, Wheeling University President.

Prior to his appointment at Wheeling University, he served for 23 years in campus ministry at the Pennsylvania State University, State College. During his tenure at Penn State, Father David founded “Mission Mexico,” a student Catholic mission trip to Tijuana, Mexico, to work with a Catholic orphanage. That program ran from 2002 to 2019, and more than 250 Penn State students participated in the project. He also served as spiritual director for the Benedictine oblates at Penn State University. 

Father David attended Saint Teresa Parochial School in Munhall, Pennsylvania and is a 1967 graduate of Boyle Catholic High School, Homestead, Pennsylvania. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history, with honors, from Saint Vincent College in 1971, and a Master of Divinity degree, with high honors, from Saint Vincent Seminary in 1975. He also did graduate work at Loyola University and Providence College in religious studies.

A Pittsburgh native, his parents were the late Frank Griffin and the late Margaret (Dunlap) Griffin. He made simple profession of monastic vows on July 10, 1972, and solemn profession of vows on July 11, 1975. Father David was ordained to the priesthood on May 22, 1976.

At Saint Vincent, Father David served as guest master for the Archabbey and socius of novices (1973-1975). He served his deacon internship at Saint Germaine Parish in the Pittsburgh Diocese (1975-1976) and then was appointed to the faculty of Benedictine Military School in Savannah, Georgia in 1976. In 1978 he was appointed as the assistant headmaster, as well as the chairperson of the social studies and religious studies departments at Benedictine, before being named headmaster of the school, where he served in that position from 1986 to 1994. He was also named to the Saint Vincent College Board of Directors (1986-1994, 2024-present). He served as Director of Campus Ministry at Saint Vincent, a residence hall moderator and assistant soccer coach.