Assignments of the Midwest Jesuits

Assignments of the Midwest Jesuits - Spring 2017

Jesuit Community

Fr. Richard Abert, SJ, will become superior of the Père Marquette Jesuit Community in Milwaukee on July 31, succeeding Fr. Mark Carr, SJ. He previously served as pastor of several parishes at Holy Rosary Mission on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Fr. Robert Bireley, SJ, has been missioned to pray for the Church and the Society at St. Camillus Jesuit Community in Wauwatosa, Wis. He previously served as professor emeritus of history at Loyola University Chicago.

Kathleen Groh, regional director of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) Minneapolis/St. Paul chapter, was presented with the Leading with Faith Award by The Catholic Spirit, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Kathleen was honored with six other recipients at an August 18 luncheon at St. Catherine University with the Most Rev. Bernard Hebda, archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis. According to The Catholic Spirit, the Leading with Faith Award was established as a way to celebrate business and community leaders “who integrate their Catholic faith in their workplaces.” Under Kathleen’s leadership over the past five years, IVC has experienced significant growth in the Twin Cities. “I was once told that volunteers will always be attracted to a ‘warm fire,’” Kathleen told The Catholic Spirit. “That is what I have tried to provide as I lead IVC. Watching the steady growth of IVC from 10 volunteers to 25 and sending them into the nonprofits that serve those who are poor and vulnerable is most gratifying. We are called by St. Ignatius to ‘set the world on fire,’ and these men and women are lighting them all over the metro area.” IVC provides mature men and women the opportunity to serve the needs of people who are poor, to work for a more just society, and to grow deeper in Christian faith by reflecting and praying in the Ignatian tradition. To learn more, visit www.ivcusa.org or www.thecatholicspirit.com.

Fr. Denis Dirscherl, SJ, has been missioned to pray for the Church and the Society at Colombiere Jesuit Community in Clarkston, Mich. He previously served as assistant chaplain at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Fairborn, Ohio.

St. Francis Dental Clinic and Creighton Receive Award The St. Francis Mission Dental Clinic and Creighton University School of Dentistry were selected as recipients of an American Dental Association Foundation E. “Bud” Tarrson Dental School Student Community Leadership Award for the 2015–2016 school year. The award recognized the excellent care offered to the Lakota people on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. “The partnership between the St. Francis Mission Dental Clinic and Creighton has been a study in caring and compassion,” said Jesuit Fr. John Hatcher, president of St. Francis Mission. “The dental students who lead this effort bring renewed hope and possibility here.” The four-chair clinic offers care with help from volunteer dentists and hygienists. Aside from the local hospital, the clinic stands alone in serving the oral hygiene needs of the 26,000 Lakota (Sioux) people on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. Creighton dental students, alumni, and faculty have made four annual trips to the clinic, providing an average of $15,000–18,000 in dental care over several days. Despite its successes, the clinic and its patients face challenges. “Because we don’t have a permanent dentist on staff, we rely solely on volunteers,” said Fr. Hatcher. “We also have been using equipment that was outdated when we got it.” To learn more about St. Francis Mission and support its dental clinic, visit www.sfmission.org

Fr. Kevin Kersten, SJ, has been missioned to pray for the Church and the Society at St. Camillus Jesuit Community in Wauwatosa, Wis. He previously served as chaplain to the Creighton University School of Law and assistant pastor at St. John’s Parish in Omaha.

Fr. Joseph Mueller, SJ, will become rector of the Marquette University Jesuit Community in Milwaukee on July 31, succeeding Fr. Jeffrey LaBelle, SJ, who will spend the fall semester on sabbatical before continuing his service at Marquette's College of Education.

Jesuit School Alums Compete in 2016 Rio Olympics - Jimmy Butler (right)

Fr. Matthew Walsh, SJ, will become superior of the Arrupe House Jesuit Community in Milwaukee on July 31, succeeding Fr. Daniel McDonald, SJ. Fr. Walsh also serves as associate pastor at Church of the Gesu in Milwaukee.

Jesuit Formation

Fr. William O'Brien, SJ, will become novice director for the USA Midwest Province effective August 14, 2017. He will succeed Fr. Tom Pipp, SJ.

Province Office

Fr. Glen Chun, SJ, will become the first socius for the USA Midwest Province effective June 5, 2017, the date of the creation of the new province. Fr. Chun, who is currently in the tertianship program in Dublin, Ireland, will also serve as admonitor and province consultor.

Universities

Fr. Justin Tirkey, SJ, of the Ranchi Province in India is beginning an interdisciplinary doctoral program at Marquette University in Milwaukee.

Click here for the Spring 2017 Jesuits magazine index.