Ninth Annual Archbishop's Prayer Breakfast

Dr. Richard Scott Woodward was born in Baton Rouge, LA. He and his wife of 46 years, Dr. Cathy Woodward, DNP, have three children and one grandchild. Dr, Woodward attended Seattle University where he received a BA in Religious Studies (1980) and a Masters in Religious Education (1984). After moving to San Antonio, he attended St. Mary’s University where he was a Distinguished Graduate earning a MA in Biblical Theology. Completing his educational journey, he was awarded his Doctor of Ministry in 2004 from the Oblate School of Theology.

Before moving to San Antonio, he served in the Diocese of Alexandria, LA in both parish and diocesan offices of religious education.

Oblate School of Theology has been home for Dr. Woodward for the last 34 years. He has worked with the school’s Lay Ministry Programs, directed the MA in Pastoral Ministry, and served as both Associate Dean and VP for Academic Affairs. He has done extensive work in ecumenical and interreligious dialogue; teaching in the area of pastoral theology, including ecumenism, lay formation for ministry, Vatican II and its reception, and Church history. He has had the honor of visiting Oblate ministries around the world including Cotabato City, Philippines, Kinshasa, DRC; Cedara, South Africa; Ottawa, Ontario; and Chennai, India. Dr. Woodward was installed by the Oblate School Board of Trustees as the school’s 19th President on October 23rd, 2020.

When Dr. Woodward was asked what his inspiration was to accept the responsibility of the presidency. He shared, “The Oblate way of life and Charism to serve the poor and abandoned has kept me in the Church. It is that simple. It has repeatedly offered a view of the Church and the gospel that focuses on the poor, the immigrant, and the sick; not a Church triumphant, but a Church in service. This the Church I imagine as I read the gospels. I feel as if I owe a debt to those who have kept this alive and kept it alive in me. If the Church loses this care for the poor, this Church in service, we lose who we are and we lose a valuable aspect of evangelization. I have a few years left to be part of helping this continue.”

Dr. Woodward’s ongoing research includes the contributions of the Archdiocese of San Antonio to Vatican II and the reciprocal effects of Vatican II on the Archdiocese of San Antonio.