Fr. William King, SJ

“In August 1973, I entered Xavier University in Cincinnati as a member of the class of 1977. I was in the Honors Bachelor of Arts program, majoring in classical language. I lived in Marion Hall with other HAB students. That fall, Bill King came to XU to be the chaplain in residence of Marion Hall. Bill was a favorite of the Marion Hall men. He was very kind, compassionate, and warm-hearted. He demonstrated what it means to be Christ-like. I am now 70 years of age and have come to treasure my friendship with Bill. God does place his saints among us, one of whom was Bill King.”

—Kevin M. McIver

Jesuit Frs. Walter Halloran and Francis Aspenleiter

“Father Halloran was a great coach. He said, ‘The simple way to salvation and a good life was to love God.’ Father Aspenleiter said, ‘Let history show you the way.’ All of the Jesuits I met at Campion were great.”

—John L. Doman

All the Jesuit priests, scholastics and brothers missioned to Campion Jesuit High School from September 1958 through June 1962

“The billboard on Route 35 outside of the campus asserted, ‘Give Campion a boy and get back a man.’ They did. God bless them all. My classmate, teammate and friend, Fr. Pat McCorkell, SJ. God bless him.”

—Jerome J. Burke

Br. Patrick Douglas, SJ

“Our favorite Jesuit is Br. Patrick Douglas, SJ, who is our son. He has a major role in Student Support Services at Creighton Prep in helping students and families in need.”

—Jack and Sally Douglas

Jesuit Frs. William Kelly and Tony Weber

“I met Fr. Kelly at Creighton and played golf with him. He helped my son get into college and was a family friend. Father Weber was a Creighton fraternity moderator, and he married my wife and I 48 years ago.”

—Albert M. Engles

Fr. Robert Tillman, SJ

“Our favorite Jesuit is Fr. Robert Tillman, who is a perfect example of humanness. We met him at Creighton Prep, where our two grandsons graduated in 2023 and 2024. Father Tillman coached our grandson in cross country and track for four years. My grandson Eli Jones and the cross country team won the championship in the fall of 2023!! We love all the Jesuits in academic and character building. My wife is a Creighton College of Nursing graduate, 1970. We now have a grandson at Marquette.”

—James and Stella Knott

Pope Francis and Jesuit Frs. Charles Conroy, David Mastrangelo and Arthur Loveley

“Why stop at one? Backtracking in my life, I’m grateful for the following: Pope Francis and Jesuit Frs. Charles Conroy, David Mastrangelo, and Arthur Loveley. Pope Francis and I will meet in heaven. Father Conroy gave a day of prayer to 40 women at the Detroit House of Correction in the 1970s and remembered all 40 women by name. Among the priests in parishes, when I needed help, Fr. Mastrangelo came. He was always willing to help. Fr. Loveley began his new jail and prison ministry and did it for 25-plus years. He was compassionate toward the women prisoners. I invited Fr. Loveley to offer Mass at the jail on a Sunday and he offered Mass on Christmas day 2000 in the Wayne County Jail in Detroit. He was always upbeat and accepting of everyone.”

—Alberta Asmar

Jesuit Frs. John Peters, Raymond Guiao, Jack White, Lawrence Ober, Cyril Whitaker, Michael Graham and Ronnie O’Dwyer

“For Mark, Fr. Peters was an early mentor and superb teacher in the sciences at Xavier University in 1975. At Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Fr. Guiao was a great music teacher for our son Mark (’05); Fr. White was wise and gentle as a spiritual exercises facilitator for Mary Beth in 2006; and Fr. Ober was an amazing teacher for our son Daniel (SIHS ’07), even when Daniel had to vacuum the classroom for JUG duty. Father Whitaker was a phenomenal mentor at Xavier University in 2013 for our son Stefan (SIHS ’11 and XU ’13). Our daughter’s experience was made richer by the leadership of Fr. Graham as president of Xavier in 2013. Father O’Dwyer is a family friend, an enthusiast and a visionary, and a family member through marriage!”

—Mary Beth and Mark L. Modic

Fr. Tom Shannon, SJ

“I met Fr. Shannon at Creighton University. He was easy to talk to about questions and concerns I had as an undergraduate.”

—Steven R. Johnson

Jesuit Frs. James Quinn and David A. Wayne

“I met Fr. Quinn at Creighton University, and he was a good confidant. Father Wayne is my first cousin.”

—John A. Moran

Fr. Richard J. Brown, SJ

“Father Brown taught me two classes my freshman year at St. X in 1954, algebra and religion. We had just gotten out of parochial school, thus ‘good enough’ was sufficient. Each day, Fr. Brown had us memorize a part of the Baltimore Catechism and we had to write it the next day. It had to be perfect! We learned that each word is important. The goal, at St. X, is ‘perfection.’ He would often say, ‘I want to go to heaven!’ He gave us a solid introduction to the rest of our lives.”

—Joseph P. Cassinelli

Fr. Dan McDonald, SJ

“When I arrived at Marquette as a first-year undergraduate, I took sociology from Fr. Dan McDonald, SJ. He became my first spiritual director; he taught me how to pray. I am now a spiritual director myself, and I thank God for Fr. Dan’s influence in my prayer life.”

—David D. Urbanski

Fr. John Holbrook, SJ

“Having known many Jesuits between Creighton and Marquette, my all-time favorite was Fr. John Holbrook Jr. I met him at Creighton when I was an undergraduate. He was close to my late husband, Steve Mokrohisky, and to my four children. He was a person of commitment to God and the Jesuit community, and to serving the Lord’s people. He had a wonderful ability to form and maintain relationships, many of them very long-term and over long distances. He died 20 years ago and I still miss him today. Witnessing his lifelong love affair with the Lord has been a faith gift to me—and my family.”

—Susan Mokrohisky

Fr. George Winzenburg, SJ

“Father George Winzenburg is a tremendous priest and friend. He was president of Marquette University High School when both our sons were there. He was also at our daughter’s bedside when she was critically ill. At that time, he was pastor at Church of the Gesu. She survived and Fr. George presided at her wedding several years later. We are blessed to have him in our lives!! He is such a special person.”

—Mary Lou and Jeffrey Schwab

Fr. Bert Thelen, SJ

“My husband and I are Ignatian Associates in the Twin Cities. We’re grateful for Bert’s efforts to establish this lay organization. It has deepened our spiritual journey in so many ways.”

—Jane Scullin

Jesuit Frs. Norbert Heutter, Karl Kiser and Malcolm Carron

“I met Fr. Huetter at the University of Detroit Mercy when I was there, 1958-1962, and he really connected with our sorority. He was our chaplain. Father Kiser was at University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy, where we had three boys, ’91, ’94 and ’02. What a great model for the boys! Father Carron was UDM president when I was there. He was a strong man with strong plans and a strong faith.”

—Judith A. Ballint

Fr. Norman Dixon, SJ

“God bless Pope Francis, Fr. Norm and St. Ignatius. We need more Jesuits. Father Norm came to St. Aloysius during a time of great need. He was a humble man who taught us what walking with Jesus looks like. I am a better person because of him. I try daily to practice what Jesus taught.”

—Jane Roesemeier

Fr. Richard Huelseman, SJ

“Father Richard Huelseman was in residence at my former parish, St. Matthias, in Columbus, Ohio. He was kind and strong at the same time. He had a 5:30 p.m. Mass so that working people could attend.”

—Mary Susan Fortunato

Fr. Francis X. Budovic, SJ

“I met Fr. Budovic at the University of Scranton, where he was my German professor, 1961-62. He was kind, self-effacing, direct, competent, always available, and he loved the language. He was an unforgettable minister of the faith.”

—John J. Lyons

Jesuit Frs. Paul Dent and John Kavanaugh

“Father Dent is my wife’s uncle, and he has a devoted reverence to Christ and his vows. Father Kavanaugh worked with the poor in India with Mother Teresa.”

—Frederick Scott

Fr. Donald J. Hayes, SJ

“I met Fr. Donald J. Hayes at Loyola University Chicago in September 1965, my sophomore year at Loyola U. He was the chaplain at Gonzaga Hall, where I lived my sophomore and junior year. By his leadership and example, he taught large numbers of us to be the best people and disciples that we could.”

—William C. Dixon

Fr. Jack O’Callaghan, SJ

“Jack O’Callaghan joined the Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) team after Jim Dixon moved to Milwaukee. Father Jack brought his incredible intellect and pastoral care to the IVC leadership team, our community and me personally. His example of living Ignatian spirituality was a beacon for all of us. I pray every day in gratitude for his being in my life.”

—Jacqueline R. Fitzgerald