70 Years as a Jesuit
Father John Willmering, SJ, became a Jesuit on August 8, 1955. A native of St. Louis, he entered the Society of Jesus at St. Stanislaus Seminary in Florissant, Missouri, after finishing his last two years of high school at Cathedral High in Indianapolis. Today, he lives not far from the former novitiate at St. Ignatius Hall, a community for senior Jesuits.
Father Willmering is one of the last U.S. Jesuit missionaries in Honduras, having lived there for nearly five decades. He served as director of catechists and pastoral minister in the Yoro Mission in El Progreso from 1969 to 1973. From 1974 to 1979 he lived in the Morazan parish. He was superior of the Yoro Mission in El Progreso from 1979 until 1982. He then served as assistant pastor in the parish of Yoro, Yoro, from 1983 until 1989. After a sabbatical in 1990, he served in pastoral ministry in the parish of Olanchito from 1991 until 1997. After another sabbatical, he was assistant pastor in the Negrito parish from 1998 until 2000. From 2000 until 2017, he served a second time as pastoral minister in the parish of Yoro, Yoro.
As a young Jesuit, he taught for a year at Kapaun High School in Wichita, Kansas, and for two years at St. John’s College, Belize City, Belize, 1963-65
Father Willmering was ordained a priest June 4, 1968, at the St. Louis Cathedral. He professed final vows in the Society on April 22, 1975, in El Progreso.
Father Willmering earned a Bachelor of Arts, master’s degree, licentiate in philosophy and licentiate in sacred theology, all from Saint Louis University.
Father Willmering’s Reflection
It was great working with the Hondurans and sharing their life, especially their family life. Despite acute poverty, their faith in God led them to keep struggling to promote healthier living conditions for their families. In one word, they live the gospel as good news.
Let me add that I had a great group of fellow Jesuit missionaries from the USA, from Spain and from Central America to work with. And I’m also grateful for all the support – financial and prayer support –that we received from the USA and from other countries around the world.
