Loyola Dinner - Sword of St. Ignatius Acceptance Talk

10/23/23

When I reviewed the previous recipients of the Sword of Ignatius award, I was humbled to be considered in their company, and in the company of my fellow recipients tonight: Steve… Ryan… Sharon… and Joe.

As I look back over my life as a Jesuit there are many graces I'd like to share with you.

In 1962 I was assigned to St. Francis Indian Mission.What a blessing that was. The very first week I was there, I was asked if I would learn photography for a fundraising effort. It changed my life’s direction. 

One summer, I attended Marquette University’s photojournalism class. I went back to St. Francis for my 3rd year teaching and had a life-changing experience. As I walked the prairie one night, I was so discouraged with Photography. I had been working at it for 2 years, and I still had not taken what I thought was a good photograph. I was going to give it up.

But as I walked, I wondered: what am I going to do as a Jesuit …  and asked myself, “What do you love doing?”
I answered: “I love making photographs!’ Then a voice deep within me said, “Stay with photography. It’s the first thing you have loved doing.”

Those three years of teaching, or Regency, were personally so formative. I grew in confidence as a teacher and coached track, the rifle team and basketball. Brother Wilmott taught me his “monster” full court press and the team won two championships.

I moved to theology studies where we learned the teachings of Vatican II and came to understand the Voice within could very well be the Holy Spirit. During those years, I was part of a team of Jesuits who gave 22 student retreats at Creighton.

I decided to prayerfully review the book A Call to Vision, which sums up 50 years of my photography. Every one of those projects began with that quiet prompting within.

In 1974 I was inspired to follow that voice inside, suggesting I return to the Rosebud reservation and show how the people live. I returned to Spring Creek, South Dakota a Lakota-speaking community of 175 people who remembered well me from my earlier years. I lived there, documenting everyday life and served as their parish priest.

That photo essay brought my first recognition as a photographer and the attention of National Geographic. I had felt the desire to do something similar in Alaska. I was ready when the Geographic offered me a contract for a story among the Yupik eskimos.

When I was asked to judge the Pictures Of the Year competition, reviewing 30,000 photographs, I realized how different my work was.

That voice inside inspired me to go back to the reservation and photograph the cultural leaders of 15 Sioux reservations.  

By then, I had been teaching photojournalism at Creighton for 25 years, but I wanted to photograph full time. I was granted the Charles and Mary Heider Endowed Jesuit Chair. The great gift of holding the Heider chair for 25 years allowed me the time to travel the world, focusing on Jesuit stories.

It has been a great joy to be a Jesuit and experience wonderful friendships with my brother Jesuits and lay friends. I want to thank Creighton Prep for this honor. I thank God for sending me to Creighton and Omaha.

Thank you.