Jesuits and life at Marquette

Nine Jesuits recount special moments in their lives at Marquette

Photography by john nienhuis

When alumni share Marquette memories there's always a story or two about a Jesuit. Father John Patrick Donnelly's history lectures in the Varsity Theatre are a favorite topic. Remembering Father John Naus performing as Tumbleweed the Clown brings out smiles. Wondering how Father Andy Thon managed to live with hundreds of teens in McCormick Hall for 18 years is a speculation of many, particularly of alumni who have just one teenage daughter or son at home today. Marquette's Jesuits say that teaching and ministering to students in the university community rank among the great joys of their calling to religious life. But they, too, have favorite moments.

Left to right: Rev. J.J. O'Leary, S.J.; Rev. Joseph Mueller, S.J.; Rev. Frank Majka, S.J.; and Rev. Wally Stohrer, S.J.

The students I taught at Marquette have given me so many fond memories. Now 75 years old, I decided to go through some things and one of the things I needed to discard were the pictures of my students. I always took pictures the first class day to learn their names and to pray for them each morning.

I vividly recall an incident involving a student from Boston. He was in my office crying. His dad was killed in an auto accident. “I never told my Dad I loved him, and now I never can,” he said.

From that time on I told my students not to study over Thanksgiving vacation (I knew they wouldn’t anyway); their only assignment was to tell their dads and moms they loved them, and tell them why. Many parents wrote and thanked me, and I always have a deep gratitude for the student who taught me the importance of the words, “I love you because ...”

Rev. J.J. O’Leary, S.J., taught theology at Marquette from 1981-88. Today he is a retreat director.

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A key moment in my work as a Jesuit at Marquette comes when former students call or write me to tell me of the jobs they have secured.

Besides the achievement that their jobs represent for them, what gives me joy on such occasions is seeing that my students are beginning to help others with the education that I helped them to start. Knowing that I now share through them that role of helping others tells me that I have a deepened kinship with them.

I thank God that He allows me to water seeds that flower in such a lovely way.

Rev. Joseph Mueller, S.J., assistant professor of theology, joined Marquette’s faculty in 1999.

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Over the dozen or so years I’ve worked at University Ministry, I’ve appreciated the time I spend talking with students in the residence hall cafeterias. That’s a place where a lot of good interaction happens. Since I don’t teach, it’s an important point of contact with students I might not otherwise have.

Some of my best experiences of Marquette University come from talking to alums at weddings. Almost all of them are happy about where they are in their lives, but they want to keep growing, too.

They speak fondly of their experiences and the friends they made here.

They also feel that Marquette helped them learn to want to serve the larger human family, and they still think in those terms.

Rev. Frank Majka, S.J., joined Marquette as assistant director of University Ministry in 1996. Today he is associate director of University Ministry and chaplain to the Diederich College of Communication.

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Shortly before he passed away, Father John Raynor asked if I would deliver the homily at his Mass of Christian Burial.

I was very touched by this request of my Jesuit brother and said that I would be honored to do so, and that I would do my best.

It was at this Mass, in November 1997 at Gesu Church, that I eulogized our beloved president with these words: “John delighted in sharing with others his conviction that Marquette University is a place of splendor and wonder, of discovery and creativity, a place of enchantment and delicate beauty. Through his magnetic leadership and contagious enthusiasm, our university would prosper and flourish as an Ignatian instrument of service to Milwaukee, the state of Wisconsin, the nation and the world.”

Rev. Wally Stohrer, S.J., has taught philosophy to Marquette students for 36 years and is also chaplain to the College of Nursing. He joined Marquette’s faculty in 1971.

Left to right: Rev. John Patrick Donnelly, S.J.; Rev. John Naus, S.J.; Rev. Roland Teske, S.J.; Rev. Mike Zeps, S.J.; and Rev. Thaddeus Burch, S.J.

I have been teaching history at Marquette since 1971. I treasure three moments the most. The first was getting tenure at Marquette in 1977; it meant that I could continue in the work I loved at the university from which my father, mother and brother graduated. The second was giving the sermon at the graduation Mass in the auditorium next door to the Milwaukee Arena where Marquette used to play its basketball games. My mother was there with classmates celebrating the 50th anniversary of their graduation from Marquette. And the third, from 1979-92 I taught the big History 001 and 002 courses in the Varsity Theatre with the help of 13 teaching assistants. In 1992 my teaching assistants hosted a dinner celebrating my retirement from the Varsity.

Rich indeed are my memories of those years when I taught some 13,000 students, strongly supported by wonderful TAs.

Rev. John Patrick Donnelly, S.J., professor of history, may hold the record for teaching the most Marquette students.

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To attend Mass in a chapel that is six centuries old, a chapel in which St. Joan of Arc prayed, a chapel in the heart of our campus that attracts hundreds of our students to Mass five days a week is a tremendous honor. Tuesday 10 p.m. begins the happiest hour of each week for me, concelebrating Mass there at that time for the past 25 years.

Six dedicated musicians and a choir, sacristan, Eucharistic ministers, readers — all students, all friends, all treasuring together the coming of Jesus, who nourishes them with His body and blood.

Rev. John Naus, S.J., joined Marquette’s faculty in 1963 and continues today, teaching Theory of Ethics, Eastern Philosophy and Philosophy of Humor. He was resident chaplain in Schroeder Hall for 28 years and prompted by students (who gave him the costume) became Tumbleweed the Clown. Father Naus is also chaplain to the Marquette chapter of the Evans Scholars.

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i will have completed 38 years in the Philosophy Department when I retire next May. I have been very fortunate and blessed in many ways, especially in receiving the Schuenke Chair in Philosophy several years ago. My years here were broken only by a year for an acting deanship and visiting professorships elsewhere.

I was blessed with good colleagues and chairs. Father Wade was my principal mentor. He set the goals high and insisted that a Jesuit should be the best. I tried and of course did not succeed, but these years have been very good ones for me and, I hope, for my students.

Rev. Roland Teske, S.J., professor of philosophy, joined Marquette’s faculty in 1970. He is an internationally respected scholar on Augustine and medieval philosophy.

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i just talked with an alumna last night and we laughed again about this. She arrived here for graduate studies in the mid-’80s from Santa Clara University, where she had been a writer for the campus newspaper. I knew the area well so they referred her to me. She was being sued for $80 million and needed some personal counsel. She allegedly had libeled someone by writing that he was a “crook” for paying a basketball player at the University of San Francisco for not working. She was upset, and it didn’t help when the president of Santa Clara, a co-defendant, called to ask about her father’s homeowner’s insurance. Eighty million dollars is a lot of money. Well, I laughed, which did not help. But I laughed some more when I found out the plaintiff was the brother of a Jesuit in San Francisco.

Sure enough the lawsuit was eventually dropped, and she graduated with a master’s degree in journalism. She now teaches English at a high school for boys, has kids approaching college age who are looking at Marquette, and hasn’t been sued once since.

Rev. Mike Zeps, S.J., associate professor of history, joined Marquette’s faculty in 1979. He is resident chaplain in Cobeen Hall, the women’s residence hall.

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as the person in charge of the Graduate School financial aid, I was impressed by how often I had to say “no.” The stack of “no” letters prepared for my signature was always taller than the pile of “yes” letters. The majority of students visiting my office, most very good students with real needs, left disappointed. I was grateful when generous donors enabled me to say “yes,” and Arthur J. Schmitt and his foundation stood out in this regard.

During my time, they funded full fellowships for about 200 doctoral students. But especially, the foundation’s trustees visited annually to interview financial aid applicants, and in their interviews they reminded the fellows that their Christian or similar values demanded — and Arthur Schmitt would expect — them to use their education and talents to be leaders in providing help to others.

Rev. Thaddeus J. Burch, S.J., joined Marquette’s faculty in 1975 and worked as dean of the Graduate School for 17 years. Today he is director of special projects for the Graduate School.

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