Meet Fr David Krol

I am David Krol, a French Catholic priest, born in Clermont-Ferrand, and I have been serving as the Catholic Chaplain at the University of Birmingham since September 2025.

I am a member of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), which I joined in 2013. My Jesuit formation has taken me across different countries, cultures, and academic contexts, shaping both my pastoral approach and my engagement with the university world. I spent five years studying philosophy and theology in Paris at the Loyola Faculties, alongside two years of mission work and a further two years serving students in the Indian Ocean region.

I also hold a master’s degree in theology (Spirituality), completed in partnership with Santa Clara University (CA), with a particular focus on the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius and their dialogue with ecumenical questions. This academic and spiritual background deeply informs the way I understand chaplaincy: as a space for reflection, discernment, and meaningful conversation at the intersection of faith, reason, and lived experience.

As chaplain, I am available to students and staff alike, for informal conversations, sacramental ministry (including confession and preparation for baptism and confirmation), and spiritual accompaniment. As a Jesuit, I am especially trained in one-to-one spiritual guidance, offering a listening presence for those who wish to explore questions of faith, purpose, vocation, or personal growth, whether from a religious perspective or not.

Beyond theology, I have a strong interest in the sciences, particularly astronomy and questions related to the universe, and I am an enthusiastic guitarist, enjoying a wide range of musical styles and instruments.

I look forward to meeting members of the university community and accompanying them, in whatever way may be helpful, during their time at Birmingham.