Fr. Will Prospero, S.J.

will.prospero@stmarycmu.org

is our current pastor.  Fr. Will joined us August 15, 2006. He grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, attended Marquette University, and graduated in 1987 with a degree in Business Administration.  Soon after, he entered the Society of Jesus, Wisconsin Province. He notes his realization that the most important investments are the eternal ones!

He spent two years in St. Paul in the Jesuit Novitiate of the North American Martyrs discerning his vocation. There, one highlight was the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola, a 30 day course of meditations under the guidance of a spiritual director.  During the second of the four weeks, Fr. Will made an "election of life" and offered  his life in freedom to the Lord as a Jesuit priest.

Another significant experience of his novitiate was pilgrimage.  He was sent away with another novice for seven weeks with two destinations and $35.  They hitchhiked across Wisconsin, northern Michigan, Ontario, Buffalo and Cleveland before returning home.  Trusting that God would provide for all their needs was challenging at first, but in time it became fun!  Constantly surprised by God, they were never hungry or without shelter.  Most importantly, when away from the comforts of home, they were more open -'hungrier'- for God's presence. 

After novitiate, Fr. Will studied humanities and philosophy at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, then taught for three years in the Jesuit mission high school on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Pine Ridge, South Dakota.  From there, he went to theology studies in Boston, and was ordained a priest in 1998 in Milwaukee.  His first assignment as a priest was to the Sioux Spiritual Center (a retreat center for Native Americans) in Plainview, South Dakota. 

Fr. Will comes to St. Mary's from his most recent assignment in campus ministry at Marquette University in Milwaukee. There he helped young people discern their vocation.  He found that many are open to religious life and are in need of a spiritual director to help clarify the deepest desires of their hearts.  He very much enjoys helping young people in this way.

Jeremy Priest

priestermeister@gmail.com

Check out my blog here. 

Jeremy Priest is our current Pastoral Associate.  Jeremy is the second of two children and boasts of having 71 first cousins!  He grew up in Traverse City, Michigan and attended St. Francis High School--Go Glads!  After some time in the Navy, Jeremy attended Marquette University, graduating in 2000 with a degree in Theology.  After graduation Jeremy spent five years in seminary and religious life, earning another BA in Philosophy at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio.  During that time Jeremy discerned another direction for his life and has worked for the past few years in campus ministry, most recently at Madonna University. 

A few highlights of Jeremy's time in school include learning the deep furrows of Ignatian Spirituality from the many Jesuits who taught him at Marquette and in the seminary.  Among these experiences were Christian Life Communities and the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola (30-day silent retreat).  There were many opportunities for service during this period that opened Jeremy's heart to serving the Lord in different ways.  Some of these included time spent at Milwaukee's Catholic Worker house, living at inner-city parishes, and tutoring immigrant peoples in ESL.  Jeremy's experience teaching the Catholic Faith in the Bellarmine Society (a Marquette student organization) helped him to rediscover his home in the Catholic Church. 

 Jeremy grew up enjoying school, playing football, basketball, and baseball -- big Tiger's fan!  Jeremy spent much of his college time rediscovering his Catholic faith and shining his shoes as a Midshipman in the Navy ROTC.  He loves reading theology (see ridiculous # of books in background) and discovering the richness of the Catholic Tradition.