Staff Biography

Fr. Jack O'Callaghan
SSOM Chaplain & Rector

I have been a Jesuit since 1949: I entered at two! Just kidding. I was ordained a priest in 1962 and, after doctoral studies in Moral Theology at the Gregorian University in Rome, came back to Chicago to teach that subject to young Jesuits for eight happy years. Then came twenty years of Jesuit administration, first in Washington, D.C. and then in Rome. All along I was able to keep my hand in weekend parish work and in spiritual ministry, both retreats and ongoing direction for Jesuits and others drawn to Ignatian spirituality.

I came to Loyola and Stritch in 1995 and for the first time found myself in full-time work for others than Jesuits. Although I always saw my in-house focus as a great grace and a privilege, I'm happy now to be in touch with medical students and faculty. I find what I do at LUMC life-giving and fun: a great way to round out my life-work as a priest.

Besides being a member of the Ministry Team I serve on a number of committees at the Medical Center (Admissions, Ethics, IRB, Corporate Compliance, etc.) and welcome that chance to be part of the inner workings of a place whose role of service in the Jesuit tradition I value very highly.

Frankly, I'm not very good (as others are) at "hanging out" in the Ministry Center: I'm not up on current music, I know next to nothing about baseball and I don't follow any professional sports. I sometimes feel like a traitor to the American Way of Life! I am interested -- after living abroad for fifteen years, and traveling the world in my previous Jesuit jobs -- in global perspectives and our country's international influence and awareness. That makes me see diversity at Loyola as a high value, and ISI as very important, along with Stritch's growing interest in medicine which crosses all kinds of borders: national, cultural, economic, etc.

And I do value in-depth conversations with people about their personal hopes and fears and spirituality. I think "retreats" of various kinds are among the most important things Ministry does, especially because keeping perspective is perhaps the most difficult challenge I see facing medical students. You pass my office as you walk along the corridor near the CALL lab, and you'll often see my back as I sit at the computer. But unless I'm trying to meet some deadline, I'll welcome your knock on the door and have time for a chat about what's on your minds (except the Cubs' current miseries, or the fact that B.C. may well beat N.D. this year -- though even I can get enthused about that!).

The other thing I do regularly, along with the other five Jesuits in our Oak Park house, is to pray for what goes on at LUMC, and for the people involved in that at all levels. I believe what our Mission Statement says about "God's presence in all our work" and my prayer is for that to become ever more apparent to all of us, whatever Name we may give, or not, to the One who is finally In Charge.