Lois and Alvin Pfeil
This is a great example of how one Jesuit was so influential within his own family and how many different generations were affected.
By Dennis Pfeil
The Jesuits were named as a beneficiary in my mother’s will, reflecting my parents’ wishes to express their gratitude for the important role the Society of Jesus played in the life of my family. My uncle, Fr. Ralph Jung, SJ, was a longtime faculty member at Creighton University. My brother and I are both graduates of Marquette University High School, and I now have a grandson who is a freshman there. My father, Alvin Pfeil, was a frequent retreatant at the Jesuit Retreat Houses in both Oshkosh and St. Louis; he counted many Jesuits among his friends and spiritual guides. We hope this contribution in memory of my parents will benefit the work of the Society here in Wisconsin.”
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(left to right) Fr. Ralph Jung, SJ, Antonio Jung (mother of Lois Jung Pfeil), Fr. Lawrence Jung (diocesan priest), and Lois Jung Pfeil
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What a special gift it is to touch so many lives. This is a great example of how one Jesuit was so influential within his own family and how many different generations were affected.
Married for 59 years, Lois and Alvin Pfeil of New Berlin, Wis., shared a special relationship with the Jesuits. Their spirits live on through their estate’s generosity. (Photo was taken at a family wedding in 2003.)
Dennis Pfeil is the son of Lois and Alvin Pfeil and executor of Lois’s estate and living revocable trust.
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A Transformational Gift
By Howard Craig, provincial assistant for advancement for the Midwest Jesuits
I recently had the privilege of attending two significant Masses. One marked the ordination of eight Midwest Jesuits as priests; the other honored Golden Jubilarians who have served 50 years in the Society.
As I took in the beauty of both Masses, I could not help but reflect on the countless elements that made these moments possible. The presence of loved ones and well-wishers so filled with joy as their sons and brothers were ordained was a reminder of the profound role family and friends play in Jesuit formation. The jubilarians’ collective years of service offered a stunning visual of the variety of ways the Jesuits serve and just how far that service reaches.
From helping form Jesuits into men for others to sending them to make the greatest impact where there is the greatest need, these Masses embody the Society’s mission and could not happen without you. Without your support, there would be no new priests to ordain or jubilarians to celebrate. Through your gifts you helped form each of these young men beginning their new lives as priests. You stood beside each of these jubilarians as they ministered and taught throughout a lifetime of service.
These Masses celebrated the true transforming power of your gifts. Your offerings, given in gratitude and faith to the Lord, no longer represent mere dollars and cents; they are a catalyst for change and an investment in God’s future. These gifts were transformed into these Jesuits, men who have dedicated their lives to serving the poorest of the poor, educating the children of the world, evangelizing among the planet’s neediest citizens, and going forth to set the world on fire.
Thank you for all you do for the Society of Jesus.
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