Rev. William J. Doran, S.J.

 

Fr. William Doran, S.J. graduated from Creighton Prep in 1941.  He continued his education at Creighton University before entering the Jesuits at Florissant, MO in 1943.  After a traditional Jesuit course of study, he was ordained a priest in 1955.  Most of his Jesuit life, he served as an administrator (as principal at Campion High, in Prairie du Chien, WI and principal at Marquette University High in Milwaukee, WI.  From 1968-85, he was president of Marquette High).  Fr. came to Prep in 1994 where he has served as Assistant to the President in Spiritual Development.   He deals mainly with parents and alumni.

Brother Edward C. Gill, S.J.

 

Brother Edward C. Gill, S.J. entered the novitiate at Oshkosh, WI. In 1955.  He had a seminarian course of studies, but he changed to the status of brother in 1964.  Most of his work has been as treasurer of various institutions in the Wisconsin Province, beginning in 1964-65 as sort of an intern at the treasurer's office at Creighton University, mentored by such CU icons as Fr. Tom Murphy, S.J., Mr. Ed Murphy and Walt Jahn.  In 1955, he reported to Creighton Prep for a three year term as treasurer of the school.  In 1968, he was sent to Milwaukee as the Wisconsin Province Treasurer.  This was the first of six assignments over the next 35 years.  He returned to Prep in 2003.  At Prep, Brother is no longer connected with to the school.  He is responsible for various positions in the Jesuit Community, i.e., treasurer, minister, guest master and house consultor.

Mr. Andrew M. Jaspers, S.J.

 

 

Mr. Andrew M. Jaspers, S.J. lives in the Jesuit Community and is in a Clinical Pastoral Education Program at Emmanuel Hospital.

Rev. Eugene C. Kollasch, S.J.

 

Fr. Eugene Kollasch, S.J. was born in Iowa.  After some years in the navy and in college, he joined the Jesuits at Florissant, MO in 1948.  He was ordained in 1958.  After study in the U. S. and in Europe, Fr. was missioned to serve as Rector of Sogang University, in Seoul, Korea.  He later became superior of the Jesuits in Asia.  For the last several years, Fr. has been confessor for the Intercessors of the Lamb; and, he says morning Masses at the Poor Clare Convent and weekend Mass at Skyline Manor.  At 86, he is the oldest member of our Prep Jesuit Community.

 

 

Rev. Thomas J. Merkel, S.J.

 

Fr. Thomas J. Merkel, S. J. serves as the President of Creighton Preparatory School located in Omaha, NE since 2003. He served as the Superintendent of Schools at Red Cloud Indian School (1997-2003), and taught at Red Cloud High School (1990-1993) and Boys Town High School (summers 1992-3).

Fr. Merkel is a member of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). He entered the Jesuits in 1985, pronounced his first vows in 1987 and was ordained in 1997.

Fr. Merkel earned an M. A., Private School Administration from the University of San Francisco in 1997, an M. Div., Theology from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley in 1996, a Ph. L., Philosophy from Gonzaga University, Ponficia Facultas Philosophica Sancti Michaelis in 1990 and a B. A., Theology from Creighton University in 1985.

Fr. Merkel has served on the boards of the Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Minneapolis (2006-present), St. Augustine Indian Mission (2005-present), the Jesuit Middle School of Omaha (2003-present), the Jesuit Secondary Educational Association (1999-2005), the Catholic Network for Volunteer Service Board of Directors (2000-2003), the Rosebud Educational Society (1998-2001) and the Institute for Latin American Concern (1993-1997). He has served as the Chair of the Board for St. Augustine Indian Mission and the Jesuit Secondary Education Association.

 

Rev. William F. O'Leary, S.J.

 

Born October 1st, 1928 in Milwaukee, Wis., Fr. O'Leary was influenced early on by the power of the Rosary. His parents, Elmer Bernard and Elizabeth Helen would say the Rosary with the family daily and it had a profound impact not only on their oldest son Bill, but with his siblings, Jerry, Jim (who later became a priest,) Mary Ann, who they affectionately called Lamb, and the youngest, Bobby.

O'Leary attended Marquette High in Milwaukee and then Regis University in Denver, Co. At Regis, the Jesuits served powerful living messengers of the Ignatian Tradition and he felt compelled to follow in those footsteps and he soon joined the seminary.

He began seminary work outside of St. Louis in Florissant, MO and earned Bachelor's degree in philosophy and letters in 1956 from Saint Louis University. He taught two years at Rockhurst High in Kansas City, finished his masters in modern European history in 1958 at SLU, and taught one semester on the St. Francis Indian Mission is St. Francis, SD. From there, he went to St. Mary's College in central Kansas and studied theology for four years. In 1962, the third year at St. Mary's, he was ordained back in his home town of Milwaukee and soon moved to Decatur, Ill, for his tertianship.

In 1964, Fr. O'Leary would find his current home at Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha, NE. At Prep, he taught European History, World History, U.S. History, English, and for the last 15 years, Theology. In 1968, O'Leary received an additional master's degree from Creighton in guidance/counseling.

At the request of his Superiors, O'Leary participated in two sabbaticals in California. His first sabbatical fulfilled his requirements of his Clinical Pastoral Education and served as Chaplain in the California Hospital Medical Center in 1975-'76 in Los Angeles. During his second sabbatical was in 1987-'88, he worked at a Berkeley, Calif. hospital and also served area parishes.

Although O'Leary retired from teaching in 2007, he still makes his presence felt both within the school and throughout Prep community. Ninth Hour, JUG, retreats, shirt tail patrol, student masses and funeral visits keep him busy.

Rev. James Ryan, S.J.

 

 

Fr. Ryan graduated from Creighton Prep in 1955 and entered te Jesuits in 1956.  He received his MA from St. Louis University in 1964 and a degree in counseling from Boston University in 1974.  He served as rector of Marquette High from 1977-1981 and served in pastoral work on the Indian Mission in South Dakota beween 1981-2003.  He was appointed superior of the Jesuits at Creighton Prep in the summer of 2006 after serving for a numbers of years as a spiritual director at Creighton University's retreat house in Griswald, Iowa.

Rev. Kevin Schneider, S.J.

 

 

Fr. Schneider was born and raised in Green Bay, Wisc. and is the second eldest of six boys. He graduated from Creighton University in 1982, the Weston School of Theology in 1993 and was ordained in 1994.   He currently teaches sacraments and is the assistant director of spiritual development for parents, faculty, staff and alumni as well as the assistant chaplain for many athletic teams.  He is a life-long Packer and Bluejay fan.

Rev. James A. Sinnerud, S.J.

 

Fr. James Sinnerud, S.J. is a member of the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus. He entered the Jesuits in 1960; and, he spent most of his time in studies with the Oregon Province; some of this time was spent studying in Europe.  Fr. Jim came to Prep in 1987.  He taught theology though 2008.  He also spent some time as a varsity football coach.  He is presently serving as a substitute teacher, prefect and sacramental minister at Prep; and, occasionally, he says Mass for the Poor Clares.

Rev. George R. Sullivan, S.J.

 

 

Fr. Sullivan graduated from Prep in 1962.  After years of fund raising for the Gregorian, the Jesuit University in Rome, George has returned to his home town of Omaha to assist Fr. Merkel, Prep's president.  Fr. Sullivan also served as president of Prep for eight year

 Rev. Robert Tilmann, S.J.

 

Fr. Robert Tillman, S.J. is originally from Mankato, MN.  He entered the Society of Jesus in 1966 and was ordained in 1977.  After philosophy, he served at Prep as a counselor.  For some years after ordination, Fr. Tillman served as superior at St. Francis Mission, in S.D.  In 1997, he returned to Prep to serve as superior of the Prep Jesuit Community and counselor in the school. He coaches cross country; and he lives in the Malumba House Jesuit Community, in North Omaha.