What makes Gesu unique for me?

Here at Gesu, we have the meal ministry that takes place from 5:40-6:30 pm the first three Saturdays of each month in Fr. Herian hall. I don’t help with the hard work of preparation of the meal, which is done by dedicated groups of volunteers. I simply enjoy welcoming the people—many of whom are homeless—to Gesu. Then I enjoy seeing the volunteers as they work to make sure those who come receive a good meal and are treated with dignity and respect. I often sit down at a table with the guests and share some conversation. After each has received their evening meal, one of the parishioners—Maurita, Dave, Roger, Jayne among others--welcomes them to Gesu, invites them to our worship at 4:30 pm each Saturday in the upper church, tells them about the “blue card” of neighborhood resources, and leads a prayer. I am always moved by the beautiful prayers that are offered, as well as the reverence and gratitude to God of volunteers and guests alike. I come away with new insight about how the Kingdom of God is truly coming about.

Fr. Matt Walsh, SJ

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The journey of Matthew Walsh, S.J. began more than a decade ago when he entered the novitiate for the Society of Jesus. He was ordained into the priesthood on June 12, 2009 at the Church of the Gesu.

Fr. Matt entered the Society in August of 1997 and offered his first Mass on Saturday, June 13 at the new Three Holy Companions Chapel at Marquette University High School.

Fr. Matt is a native of Prudenville, Michigan and a Marquette University graduate with a Masters in social philosophy from Loyola University in Chicago and a Masters in Divinity from the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley.

Fr. Matt has also worked at Red Cloud High School in Pine Ridge, SD. the Dominican Republic, with the homeless in the San Francisco area and a Cristo Rey High School in Chicago.