Cherished son of Deanna and Dan Elfers, dear brother of Brittany and Corey Elfers, grandson of Robert and Sandy Elfers, Donna and the late James Schrichten, nephew of Ginny Clements, Timothy Schrichten, Christy, Robert III and Michael Elfers. Wednesday, January 17, 2007.∼Fr. Kevin E. Gallagher, SJ, a Cincinnati Jesuit missionary who served in Peru for 44 years, died on Saturday November 3, 2007.
Fr. Kevin E. Gallagher, SJ, a graduate of St. Xavier High School (‘47) and Xavier University (‘51), died Saturday, Nov. 3, at St. Margaret Hall at the age of 78.
A Jesuit priest, he spent most of his life as a missionary in Peru. For the majority of his 43 years there, Fr. Gallagher worked to establish schools for the urban and rural poor through Fe y Alegría (Faith and Joy). A Jesuit-founded-organization, Fe y Alegría has built 70 high schools and many more grammar schools in Peru and serves more than 70,000 students throughout South America. Much of Fr. Gallagher's work involved preparing teachers academically and spiritually for their work in these schools.
In a 1985 interview, Fr. Gallagher explained, "In our schools, it's not unusual for a family to eat one day and not eat the next. . . . When we open a school it may begin as nothing more than a reed hut, but over the years they're transformed into brick buildings."
As a modern missionary, Fr. Gallagher was sensitive to and respectful of Peruvian culture. In the same interview he summed up his approach, "We have to learn to blend in with the Peruvian society, not try to change it, but to help them and grow with them."
Fr. Gallagher was born in Cincinnati, OH, where he attended Holy Family Catholic School ('43) and St. Xavier High School ('47). According to high school friend Jim Ryan, Fr. Gallagher knew even then he wanted to be a missionary to South America.
After graduating from Xavier University with a B.A. in philosophy, he entered the Jesuit novitiate in Milford, OH, in 1951. During his training to become a Jesuit priest he earned an M.A. in English from Loyola University Chicago in 1959 and an S.T.L. from West Baden College in Indiana in 1962. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1961.
Fr. Gallagher began his ministry in Peru as a religion teacher and vice principal for Colegio San José in Arequipa in 1964. He became the Jesuit major superior for the southern region of Peru in 1968. Then in 1973 he started his most lengthy ministry as educational advisor for Fe y Alegría in Lima.
"Kevin wanted to work with the poor," said colleague Fr. T. Mattingly Garr, S.J. "His true gift was as a reconciler. He was convinced that if you kept on talking, people would come together. Like Lima's famous St. Martin de Porres, he could get a cat, a dog, and a mouse to drink from the same bowl and enjoy it."
In 1997, Fr. Gallagher became president and rector at Lima's Colegio de la Inmaculada, a post he held until 2003, when he returned to Colegio San José in Arequipa, this time as educational advisor to the rector and principal.
Cousin and friend Fr. Tom Kennealy, SJ, remembers: "His great love was for the Society of Jesus and Peru. He was one of the best conversationalists I've ever known and was a gifted listener. He gave his undivided attention. He heard what you said and understood what you meant."
Fr. Gallagher is survived by nephews Peter and Thomas Schwartz and niece Chrissie Sofranec as well as many cousins. Visitation will be Wednesday, Nov. 7, at The Bellarmine Chapel at Xavier University, 3801 Ledgewood, from 5 p.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 7:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Jesuit Partnership or the Jesuit International Missions by writing or calling:
Chicago Development Office: Cincinnati Development Office:
2059 N. Sedgwick St. 607 Sycamore St.
Chicago, IL 60614 Cincinnati, OH 45202
phone 773-975-8181 513-751-6688
Fr. Kevin E. Gallagher, SJ, a graduate of St. Xavier High School (‘47) and Xavier University (‘51), died Saturday, Nov. 3, at St. Margaret Hall at the age of 78.
A Jesuit priest, he spent most of his life as a missionary in Peru. For the majority of his 43 years there, Fr. Gallagher worked to establish schools for the urban and rural poor through Fe y Alegría (Faith and Joy). A Jesuit-founded-organization, Fe y Alegría has built 70 high schools and many more grammar schools in Peru and serves more than 70,000 students throughout South America. Much of Fr. Gallagher's work involved preparing teachers academically and spiritually for their work in these schools.
In a 1985 interview, Fr. Gallagher explained, "In our schools, it's not unusual for a family to eat one day and not eat the next. . . . When we open a school it may begin as nothing more than a reed hut, but over the years they're transformed into brick buildings."
As a modern missionary, Fr. Gallagher was sensitive to and respectful of Peruvian culture. In the same interview he summed up his approach, "We have to learn to blend in with the Peruvian society, not try to change it, but to help them and grow with them."
Fr. Gallagher was born in Cincinnati, OH, where he attended Holy Family Catholic School ('43) and St. Xavier High School ('47). According to high school friend Jim Ryan, Fr. Gallagher knew even then he wanted to be a missionary to South America.
After graduating from Xavier University with a B.A. in philosophy, he entered the Jesuit novitiate in Milford, OH, in 1951. During his training to become a Jesuit priest he earned an M.A. in English from Loyola University Chicago in 1959 and an S.T.L. from West Baden College in Indiana in 1962. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1961.
Fr. Gallagher began his ministry in Peru as a religion teacher and vice principal for Colegio San José in Arequipa in 1964. He became the Jesuit major superior for the southern region of Peru in 1968. Then in 1973 he started his most lengthy ministry as educational advisor for Fe y Alegría in Lima.
"Kevin wanted to work with the poor," said colleague Fr. T. Mattingly Garr, S.J. "His true gift was as a reconciler. He was convinced that if you kept on talking, people would come together. Like Lima's famous St. Martin de Porres, he could get a cat, a dog, and a mouse to drink from the same bowl and enjoy it."
In 1997, Fr. Gallagher became president and rector at Lima's Colegio de la Inmaculada, a post he held until 2003, when he returned to Colegio San José in Arequipa, this time as educational advisor to the rector and principal.
Cousin and friend Fr. Tom Kennealy, SJ, remembers: "His great love was for the Society of Jesus and Peru. He was one of the best conversationalists I've ever known and was a gifted listener. He gave his undivided attention. He heard what you said and understood what you meant."
Fr. Gallagher is survived by nephews Peter and Thomas Schwartz and niece Chrissie Sofranec as well as many cousins. Visitation will be Wednesday, Nov. 7, at The Bellarmine Chapel at Xavier University, 3801 Ledgewood, from 5 p.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 7:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Jesuit Partnership or the Jesuit International Missions by writing or calling:
Chicago Development Office: Cincinnati Development Office:
2059 N. Sedgwick St. 607 Sycamore St.
Chicago, IL 60614 Cincinnati, OH 45202
phone 773-975-8181 513-751-6688
Cherished son of Deanna and Dan Elfers, dear brother of Brittany and Corey Elfers, grandson of Robert and Sandy Elfers, Donna and the late James Schrichten, nephew of Ginny Clements, Timothy Schrichten, Christy, Robert III and Michael Elfers. Wednesday, January 17, 2007.∼Fr. Kevin E. Gallagher, SJ, a Cincinnati Jesuit missionary who served in Peru for 44 years, died on Saturday November 3, 2007.
Fr. Kevin E. Gallagher, SJ, a graduate of St. Xavier High School (‘47) and Xavier University (‘51), died Saturday, Nov. 3, at St. Margaret Hall at the age of 78.
A Jesuit priest, he spent most of his life as a missionary in Peru. For the majority of his 43 years there, Fr. Gallagher worked to establish schools for the urban and rural poor through Fe y Alegría (Faith and Joy). A Jesuit-founded-organization, Fe y Alegría has built 70 high schools and many more grammar schools in Peru and serves more than 70,000 students throughout South America. Much of Fr. Gallagher's work involved preparing teachers academically and spiritually for their work in these schools.
In a 1985 interview, Fr. Gallagher explained, "In our schools, it's not unusual for a family to eat one day and not eat the next. . . . When we open a school it may begin as nothing more than a reed hut, but over the years they're transformed into brick buildings."
As a modern missionary, Fr. Gallagher was sensitive to and respectful of Peruvian culture. In the same interview he summed up his approach, "We have to learn to blend in with the Peruvian society, not try to change it, but to help them and grow with them."
Fr. Gallagher was born in Cincinnati, OH, where he attended Holy Family Catholic School ('43) and St. Xavier High School ('47). According to high school friend Jim Ryan, Fr. Gallagher knew even then he wanted to be a missionary to South America.
After graduating from Xavier University with a B.A. in philosophy, he entered the Jesuit novitiate in Milford, OH, in 1951. During his training to become a Jesuit priest he earned an M.A. in English from Loyola University Chicago in 1959 and an S.T.L. from West Baden College in Indiana in 1962. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1961.
Fr. Gallagher began his ministry in Peru as a religion teacher and vice principal for Colegio San José in Arequipa in 1964. He became the Jesuit major superior for the southern region of Peru in 1968. Then in 1973 he started his most lengthy ministry as educational advisor for Fe y Alegría in Lima.
"Kevin wanted to work with the poor," said colleague Fr. T. Mattingly Garr, S.J. "His true gift was as a reconciler. He was convinced that if you kept on talking, people would come together. Like Lima's famous St. Martin de Porres, he could get a cat, a dog, and a mouse to drink from the same bowl and enjoy it."
In 1997, Fr. Gallagher became president and rector at Lima's Colegio de la Inmaculada, a post he held until 2003, when he returned to Colegio San José in Arequipa, this time as educational advisor to the rector and principal.
Cousin and friend Fr. Tom Kennealy, SJ, remembers: "His great love was for the Society of Jesus and Peru. He was one of the best conversationalists I've ever known and was a gifted listener. He gave his undivided attention. He heard what you said and understood what you meant."
Fr. Gallagher is survived by nephews Peter and Thomas Schwartz and niece Chrissie Sofranec as well as many cousins. Visitation will be Wednesday, Nov. 7, at The Bellarmine Chapel at Xavier University, 3801 Ledgewood, from 5 p.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 7:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Jesuit Partnership or the Jesuit International Missions by writing or calling:
Chicago Development Office: Cincinnati Development Office:
2059 N. Sedgwick St. 607 Sycamore St.
Chicago, IL 60614 Cincinnati, OH 45202
phone 773-975-8181 513-751-6688
Fr. Kevin E. Gallagher, SJ, a graduate of St. Xavier High School (‘47) and Xavier University (‘51), died Saturday, Nov. 3, at St. Margaret Hall at the age of 78.
A Jesuit priest, he spent most of his life as a missionary in Peru. For the majority of his 43 years there, Fr. Gallagher worked to establish schools for the urban and rural poor through Fe y Alegría (Faith and Joy). A Jesuit-founded-organization, Fe y Alegría has built 70 high schools and many more grammar schools in Peru and serves more than 70,000 students throughout South America. Much of Fr. Gallagher's work involved preparing teachers academically and spiritually for their work in these schools.
In a 1985 interview, Fr. Gallagher explained, "In our schools, it's not unusual for a family to eat one day and not eat the next. . . . When we open a school it may begin as nothing more than a reed hut, but over the years they're transformed into brick buildings."
As a modern missionary, Fr. Gallagher was sensitive to and respectful of Peruvian culture. In the same interview he summed up his approach, "We have to learn to blend in with the Peruvian society, not try to change it, but to help them and grow with them."
Fr. Gallagher was born in Cincinnati, OH, where he attended Holy Family Catholic School ('43) and St. Xavier High School ('47). According to high school friend Jim Ryan, Fr. Gallagher knew even then he wanted to be a missionary to South America.
After graduating from Xavier University with a B.A. in philosophy, he entered the Jesuit novitiate in Milford, OH, in 1951. During his training to become a Jesuit priest he earned an M.A. in English from Loyola University Chicago in 1959 and an S.T.L. from West Baden College in Indiana in 1962. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1961.
Fr. Gallagher began his ministry in Peru as a religion teacher and vice principal for Colegio San José in Arequipa in 1964. He became the Jesuit major superior for the southern region of Peru in 1968. Then in 1973 he started his most lengthy ministry as educational advisor for Fe y Alegría in Lima.
"Kevin wanted to work with the poor," said colleague Fr. T. Mattingly Garr, S.J. "His true gift was as a reconciler. He was convinced that if you kept on talking, people would come together. Like Lima's famous St. Martin de Porres, he could get a cat, a dog, and a mouse to drink from the same bowl and enjoy it."
In 1997, Fr. Gallagher became president and rector at Lima's Colegio de la Inmaculada, a post he held until 2003, when he returned to Colegio San José in Arequipa, this time as educational advisor to the rector and principal.
Cousin and friend Fr. Tom Kennealy, SJ, remembers: "His great love was for the Society of Jesus and Peru. He was one of the best conversationalists I've ever known and was a gifted listener. He gave his undivided attention. He heard what you said and understood what you meant."
Fr. Gallagher is survived by nephews Peter and Thomas Schwartz and niece Chrissie Sofranec as well as many cousins. Visitation will be Wednesday, Nov. 7, at The Bellarmine Chapel at Xavier University, 3801 Ledgewood, from 5 p.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 7:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Jesuit Partnership or the Jesuit International Missions by writing or calling:
Chicago Development Office: Cincinnati Development Office:
2059 N. Sedgwick St. 607 Sycamore St.
Chicago, IL 60614 Cincinnati, OH 45202
phone 773-975-8181 513-751-6688
Bio by: Shanna Nicole
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