Inaugural Class of 1956 Professor celebration

On Oct. 23, members of the College community gathered to celebrate the appointment of Professor Frederick J. Murphy P06 as the inaugural Class of 1956 Professor.  During their 50th reunion, members of the Class of 1956 made an $8 million gift to Holy Cross, to establish professorship in the religious studies department concentrating in the area of New Testament studies. 

Murphy began his career at the College as an assistant professor in the department of religious studies 25 years ago.  Since that time he has served as chair of the religious studies department, and as a member of many committees and councils providing invaluable service and dedication to both Holy Cross and the study of religion.

Murphy has written and published many articles and six books including his most recent Early Judaism: The Exile to the Time of Jesus (Hendrickson Publishers, 2002) and An Introduction to Jesus and the Gospels (Abingdon, 2005).  In 1991, Murphy’s The Religious World of Jesus (Abingdon, 1991) received the Alpha Sigma Nu Book Award which is the highest form of recognition for scholarship awarded by the National Jesuit Honor Society.  Murphy’s current academic work focuses on texts written immediately before and after the life of Christ. 

View photos from the Oct. 23 celebration »