Since 2013, the Very Rev. William J. Harry, has served as the Prior Provincial of the Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary. Prior to this he served three terms as Commissary Provincial of the Southwestern United States and as General Council for the Carmelite Order in Rome, Italy. From 1985 – 1996 he was principal and then president of Carmel High School in Mundelein, IL.
He initiated a ministry of publications as part of the province’s evangelization efforts. In this capacity he is the director of Carmelite Publications and editor of The Sword journal.
He graduated from Marquette University (BA) and holds a M.Ed. in Educational Administration from the University of Arizona, a STB from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL) in the area of spirituality. In 1997 he received a Doctorate of Ministry (D.Min) with a focus on communications.
For five years, Fr. Bill was a very successful speaker for Cross International Catholic Outreach, raising over $500,000 preaching monthly in parishes throughout the United States. Cross International funds mission projects in various parts of the world.
He continues to serve as the communications director for the Carmelite NGO, a non-governmental organization with special status to the Economic and Social Commission of the United Nations and affiliated to the UN’s Department of Public Information. He participated in United Nations conferences in New York, Geneva, Paris, Doha, and Bonn as part of his work with the NGO.
He has given a number of retreats to Lay Carmelite groups and Carmelite parishes on Carmelite themes.