By Jerry Duggan María Isabel Domenech was raised in a Christian household, her mother an educator and her father a banker. She felt called to convert to Catholicism after attending a retreat at Manresa Retreat House in her native Puerto Rico at the age of 21. At the time, she did not recognize how transformational that decision truly was. Now, decades later, …
María Isabel Domenech: Educator with a Divine Purpose Read More »
By Mary Baudouin Sue Weishar knew as a young girl that she wanted to experience cultures other than the one she knew growing up in the Midwest. That desire led her around the world – to Samoa as a Peace Corps Volunteer and to Guatemala as a teacher – and to Louisiana as coordinator of international students at the University of Louisiana Lafayette and director of Immigration and Refugee Services …
By Therese Fink Meyerhoff Before the pandemic, Ella Chevis had a date once a month with a Jesuit. There was no scandal; it’s just the way Ms. Chevis approaches her ministry as director of nursing for the St. Alphonsus Rodriguez Pavilion in Grand Coteau, La. The Jesuit in question loves to go out to restaurants, so Ms. Chevis took him out to dinner every month. Because that’s what one does for family. “The atmosphere here (at the Pavilion) is so beautiful. …
Many people can attest that Ignatian retreats with the Jesuits can be life–altering. Steve Barbas is certainly one of those people. It was during a retreat at Grand Coteau while in law school that he came to the decision to ask the love of his life to marry him. Thankfully, Schezy Luque said yes, and together they have been blessed to be …
Influence, Inspire, Ignite. These words, found on banners which line the beautiful Avenue of the Oaks on the campus of Spring Hill College, succinctly describe the effect the Jesuits have had on the lives of Edward (‘Skeeter’) and Stephanie Morris of Mobile, Ala., benefactors of the province since 1986. Mrs. Morris’ journey with the Jesuits began in her childhood with her …
By Gretchen Crowder A few years ago, my husband and I felt super-brave on a Friday and decided to take our two two-year-olds and our four-year-old to a high school football game. It was the first time for our boys to come to Jesuit Dallas for a game. Now, perhaps we could have done this …
Inspired by the “Giants”: Sharing Faith at Jesuit Dallas Read More »
By Jerry Duggan As a theology teacher and assistant principal for formation at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory of Houston, Mark McNeil has made a career out of drawing students and colleagues closer to God. What many do not know, however, is that McNeil’s own faith journey has had many twists and turns. McNeil grew up in south Texas. …
By Jerry Duggan Growing up, Nelda Turner was taught to share everything – food, laughter and friendship – to consider the well-being of others and not just herself. Decades later, she practices that same principle in her work as a spiritual director and a retreat director. “In my work as a director, I am here to help people recognize how and where God is working …
Nelda Turner: Sharing the Graces of Ignatian Spirituality with Others Read More »
Time, talent and treasure: the golden wish of every nonprofit professional fulfilling a robust mission with lean staff on even leaner budgets. It’s a common problem, requiring an uncommon solution.
The story of Anna Kurzweil, a dreamer, diarist, poet, and world traveler with a missionary’s heart, who abandoned youthful hopes for the convent to care for her elderly mother, and who spun a fortune from a public school teacher’s salary of less than $20,000 a year, is a twist on the scriptural story of the widow’s mite.