Fr. W. Pierce Gibson IV, SJ

Entered Society: August 16, 2014

As a Jesuit: Father Gibson taught Latin, Greek and theology at Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, where he also coached golf; and taught Latin at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

Assignment Following Ordination: Father Gibson will pursue a master’s degree in art history at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London.

When I was 15 years old, it would have been almost impossible to imagine I would be where I am today. Not only was I not yet a Catholic, but the idea of becoming a Roman Catholic priest and member of a religious order did not seem to be even a remote possibility.

Today, after many twists and turns, I can look back and see, with some clarity, the almost unbelievable means by which God has led me to this moment; and for that I continue to be grateful, as well as astonished. I must start with my family, to whom I owe the foundations of my character and whose love for me I have never questioned. So much of our formation as Jesuits depends upon the Delphic maxim to know thyself, and I have been fortunate to have a slew of friends, superiors, formators, teachers, community members and spiritual directors within the Society to whom I owe a great debt of gratitude in this regard; it is often they who show me to myself.

I am grateful to Jesuits like Frs. Robert Geisinger and Charlie Rodrigues, whose spiritual formation came at pivotal moments in my Jesuit life; for superiors and formators like Frs. Gregory O’Meara, Joseph O’Keefe and Nicholas Lombardi, whose kindness and keen perception modeled for me responsibility within the Society; for a teacher like Fr. Anthony Lusvardi, SJ, who has gone above and beyond on countless occasions to aid his students. I am grateful for my students, through whom God enkindled within me a real and lasting desire to be a teacher; and perhaps especially for friends (you know who you are), who are often the most significant formators in our lives.

Large photo and top inset by: Art Montes
Bottom inset photo by: Steve Donisch