July 29, 2019

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MILWAUKEE — Marquette University will celebrate the life and ministry of St. Ignatius Loyola with the Feast of St. Ignatius Mass on Wednesday, July 31, at the Alumni Memorial Union at 12 p.m.

Mass will be presided by Rev. Fred Zagone, S.J., acting vice president for mission and ministry, in the AMU Chapel of the Holy Family. Marquette was founded in the tradition of St. Ignatius Loyola in 1881. The Feast of St. Ignatius celebrates the life and ministry of St. Ignatius Loyola and also his inspiration, which animates the university’s work and mission.

Event information:

Date: Wednesday, July 31

Time: Noon

Place: Chapel of the Holy Family, Alumni Memorial Union 1442 W. Wisconsin Ave.

This event is open to the public. Please RSVP to the office of Mission and Ministry via email at missionandministry@marquette.edu. Media are welcome to attend and should contact Kevin Conway at kevin.m.conway@marquette.edu.

About St. Ignatius Loyola: 

St. Ignatius Loyola was born in 1491 and died on July 31, 1556. When he was a youth, he joined the Spanish army and his bravado led him to sustain a life-threatening injury. During his recovery, he was led by God to change his priorities from serving the Spanish king to Christ the King. Needing an education to be a credible preacher and teacher, he went to the University of Paris for a degree in theology. There, he inspired six companions to join him as a religious community. The Society of Jesus, or Jesuits, was approved in September 1540.

In 1548, Ignatius was invited to open a school in Messina, Sicily. The school was such a success that people from all over Europe asked the Jesuits to open schools for their children. The tradition continues today with Jesuit universities, Jesuit high schools, Cristo Rey schools and Nativity middle schools in the United States.

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About Kevin Conway

Kevin is the associate director for university communication in the Office of University Relations. Contact Kevin at (414) 288-4745 or kevin.m.conway@marquette.edu.