Fr. James O'Leary, S.J., Retires After Nearly Two Decades at SLU-Madrid
Saint Louis University-Madrid says farewell to James O'Leary, S.J., who has served as campus chaplain and professor of theology since 2007.
A small retirement celebration was held May 19 in the San Ignacio Hall cafeteria, where colleagues, staff and friends gathered to recognize O’Leary’s contributions to the University community.
A native of Chicago, O'Leary entered the Society of Jesus in 1981 and was ordained a Catholic priest in 1991. Following his ordination, he lived in Peru, where he worked in popular education and prison ministry before joining SLU-Madrid.
During his 19 years at the Madrid campus, he provided pastoral support to students, faculty and staff while helping advance the University's Jesuit mission. As a professor of theology, he taught courses that encouraged students to engage deeply with questions of faith, ethics and social responsibility.
"Many years ago, I arrived at SLU-Madrid thinking that I would spend one year and then return to my previous work in Peru, where I had spent 15 years, but life sure works out in unexpected ways," O'Leary said. “I found myself truly falling in love with the SLU community, and being part of it has truly enriched my life. I could not ask for a better gift. So, thank you to all for being such an important part of my life and mission.”
O'Leary earned a Master of Education from Harvard University in 1992. He also holds a Master of Theology and a Master of Divinity from the Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and a Master of Arts in Philosophy from Loyola University Chicago.
O'Leary will return to Chicago, where he was born and raised.
The SLU-Madrid community thanks O'Leary for his years of dedicated service and wishes him all the best in retirement.