Our pastor, Father Robert Gallagher, was ordained in May of 1977 not too far up the freeway, where he grew up, in the small town of Byesville. He came to our parish in July of 2008 after retiring from the United States Air force with the rank of Lt. Colonel. Father Gallagher is a decorated veteran of both Gulf wars and served his country with distinction for 20 years. His last post was at Cannon AFB in Clovis NM where he was the base Wing Chaplain. Before being assigned to Cannon AFB Father Gallagher completed 6 tours in the Middle East, 4 of them being combat tours and two non combat tours which took him to Saudi Arabia, Oman and Egypt. Fr Gallagher has also served tours in Europe, Japan and Korea. He was also one of the first chaplains to ever get a Masters Degree in Military Operational Arts.

Prior to his stint in the Air Force he was the principal of St. John Central High School in Bellaire, Ohio from 1985 through 1988. Before that he taught at Catholic Central High School in Steubenville for five years.

While attending graduate school at Catholic University in Washington DC Father Gallagher earned Master degrees in Religious Education and Developmental Psychology as well as completing doctoral level studies in Religious Education. Father Gallagher has attended: Guernsey Catholic Central High School, College of Steubenville, St. John Vianney Seminary, Catholic University of America, University of Dayton, Air Force Chaplain Institute and lastly the Air Force Command & Staff College.