75 Years a Jesuit

Father Gene Martens, SJ, has been serving the Church as a priest for 62 years and as a Jesuit for 75 years. He has served in pastoral ministry in the St. Louis area since 2012.

Father Martens began his active ministry in 1957 as a teacher of English, Latin, Greek and theology at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Missouri. He returned there in 1966 after earning a certificate in Higher Religious Education from the University of Strasbourg in France and remained at Rockhurst High School for ten more years. During that time, he taught religion, worked as a student counselor, gave talks on religion to parents and assisted in training programs for teachers of religion throughout the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.

From 1977 to 1984, he was assigned as a minister to the bishop and clergy of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau in Missouri. He also served as a pastor at Holy Trinity Parish in Marshfield, Missouri, during this time. From 1984 to 1987, he served as the assistant to the rector of the Fusz Pavilion Jesuit Community for senior and infirm Jesuits in St. Louis.

From 1987 to 1990, he was pastor of Mount Carmel Church in Pueblo, Colorado.

Upon returning to St. Louis in 1990, Fr. Martens served as the associate director of development for the former Missouri Province, remaining until 2011. In 2012, he transitioned to providing pastoral ministry to his Jesuit brothers at Jesuit Hall, the community at Saint Louis University, accompanying them during their move to St. Ignatius Hall in 2023.

Over all his years in ministry, Fr. Martens has led more than 70 retreats, mostly for women religious. He has also given spiritual direction to many of his parishioners, students and colleagues. He has also collaborated on and written several published works, including book reviews, journal articles, and two books – one as a member of the editorial team and the other as an author.

Father Martens earned a bachelor’s degree and licentiate in philosophy from Saint Louis University. He also holds a master’s in Latin and a licentiate in sacred theology, both from Saint Louis University. He received a certificate in Higher Religious Education at the University of Strasbourg in France.

Father Martens’ Reflection on 75 Years as a Jesuit

Jesus told us: “Everyone who has given up home, brothers or sisters, father or mother, wife or children or property for my sake will receive many times as much and inherit everlasting life.” The blessings of my Jesuit vocation began in the novitiate, with its rich spiritual training, particularly making the 30-day retreat for the first of three times. Over these 75 years I have also had the blessing of Jesus, in his Eucharistic Presence, living in my house. The Society of Jesus gave me an outstanding academic education: a bachelor of arts in philosophy and letters, a master of arts in Latin, a licentiate in philosophy and theology, and a certificate in higher religious education from the University of Strasbourg, in France.

I have been blessed with traveling to or living in over 36 cities, including Paris, Lourdes, Rome and Jerusalem, and in the countries of the United States, Belize, Honduras, Canada, France, England, Wales, Ireland, Luxembourg, Belgium, Holland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Greece.

My Jesuit ministries include thirteen years of teaching at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, seven years in spiritual ministry to the bishop and clergy of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau in southern Missouri, and being pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Marshfield, Missouri, and of Mount Carmel Church in Pueblo, Colorado. I directed our Jesuit infirmary for three years and was the associate director of the development office of the former Missouri Province for twenty years. Between 1966 and 2009, I gave over 70 retreats and many days of recollection to priests, women religious and lay persons.

Since the move of our entire Jesuit community in January 2023 from Jesuit Hall at Grand and Lindell in St. Louis to St. Ignatius Hall at Delmar Gardens North, I am mostly retired from ministry. I provide spiritual direction by phone and am the chaplain for the Robert F. Weiss, SJ, Manresa Group from White House Jesuit Retreat, who meet virtually once a month.

In all of this, God has blessed me with many wonderful and dear friends. Truly, I have experienced the “hundredfold” which Jesus promised to those who join Him in spreading His kingdom on Earth.