Father Andrew Small, OMI
United Kingdom / United States
Oblate of Mary Immaculate, Secretary pro tempore.
Father Small is originally from Liverpool (England) and has served in parish ministries in Brazil and the United States, he has worked with Cardinal O’Malley, OFM Cap, for many years, including his service as the Director for the US Bishops Office for Latin America and policy advisor for Latin America in the Office for International Justice and Peace (2004-2011).
In these roles, Fr. Andrew was responsible for human rights advocacy and economic development across Africa and Latin America and worked with Teresa Kettelkamp, then the Director of the Office of the Protection of Children and Young People. Together they developed a protocol to ensure safeguarding awareness among Church entities applying for grant funding from the USCCB, an effort that was eventually the model for all international grant offices of the Conference.
As the National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (2011-2021), Fr. Small continued to gain extensive personal knowledge of the Church in the Global South and of raising awareness for safeguarding structures in these countries. He administered a $40 million grant program mostly across Africa that included an initiative to increase funding for training for religious sisters, brothers, and priests from Africa and Asia at the Centre for Child Protection.
Among his areas of expertise, Fr. Small has wide-ranging experience in developing and adapting ecclesial structures. His background includes teaching international law at Georgetown University Law Centre (2006-2009) and law degrees from Sheffield University, England (LL.B.) and Georgetown University Law Centre, USA (LL.M.). Fr. Andrew also earned a doctorate in systematic theology (S.Th.D.) from the Catholic University of America and he speaks French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Fr. Small was appointed Secretary pro tempore of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors in June 2021.
Fr. Small to Italian Safeguarding Representatives: Resist appeals to stop talking about abuse
On Friday Novemeber 17, PCPM Secretary Fr. Andrew Small OMI addressed participants in the First National Meeting of Territorial SNTM Representatives, organized by the Italian Episcopal Conference CEI. Below is an English translation of the original text in Italian:...
Card. O’ Malley: An Expanded Commission for an Expanded Mandate
Cardinal Seán O’Malley OFM. Cap., President, on the Appointment by Pope Francis of Members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors Today’s announcement by the Holy Father, Pope Francis, of members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of...