In Remembrance - Fr. Joseph O. Schell, S.J.

reflections by Fr. Robert L. Niehoff, S.J.

Fr. Joseph O. Schell, S.J., died April 25, 2008, at Colombiere Center in Clarkston, Michigan. 

I would like to begin with a couple of stories.  Since my arrival at John Carroll, no matter what generation of alums I was talking to, I heard about Fr. Joe Schell.

I went to visit Joe at Colombiere with John Boler, class of ’56, just a couple of years ago, and as I watched these two together, suddenly fifty plus years just withered away.  They talked about classes, they talked about campus life, and they talked about their friendship.  What a privilege to watch the two of them!  As we were leaving, I heard, for the first time, “please pray for these old bones” from Fr. Schell.

A couple of weeks before Fr. Schell died, Tim Russert called him and they had a great talk about their times at John Carroll.  At the end of the conversation Tim said, “Later this week I will meet with the Holy Father and I will ask him to pray for you.”  Now, who would have imagined that in ten minutes Fr. Schell would call Ryan Daly and tell him how excited he was about that.  When I saw Tim a few days later, at the Holy Father’s address with presidents and superintendents, Tim retold the story and said, “I intend to do that.”  Tim was one of the ten that went down to greet the Holy Father on April 17th.

When I called Tim to tell him of Fr. Schell’s death he said, “I did talk with the Holy Father.  I said, ‘Holy Father, I have a good friend who is not doing well and I’d like you to pray for him’ and the Holy Father said, ‘Surely.’”  Joe knows that and is delighted, I told Tim.

So that’s the type of person we have here.  Fifty-eight years on this campus as a Jesuit and to the end it was clear that he was in touch with everything that went on.  In fact, he would often ask me about something that happened on campus. 

So he left here just four years ago.  For 62 years of our 122-year history Joe Schell was a presence on this campus.

As we planned his liturgy, my difficulty was that I would not be able to pay adequate homage to him.  Others would often remind me that Joe probably would look distastefully on our display.  I reminded them that we are doing this for ourselves because Joe would not want it and he doesn’t need it.  That sentiment has resonated with many as we’ve talked in remembrance of Joe.  We’ve shared our loss and we’ve shared how Joe was so important to so many people and in so many lives.

Joe was the ideal Jesuit.  He did whatever was necessary — a teacher, dean, pastor, university president and then, the job he really loved, campus minister.  So when we struggle with our loss, let’s remember Joe and remember his message to us: “It is time to celebrate that my life has ended, as I hoped, with the Lord.  And now I can share with the Lord the lives of all those people I loved and that have loved me.”

One need only listen to the stories we have shared to be reminded that no one can love like Joe loved unless they experience that love. The way Joe talked about it that love clearly came from his mother. His last days are surely a testament to the love that he shared and showered on so many of us.  Those moments so many experienced, in retreat direction, interaction, friendship, support, counseling — whatever we called it at that moment — were grand moments.  Each of us experienced in a unique way the love, support, and encouragement of someone of faith, shared beyond our expectations and beyond our hopes.  Joe wished very much the same for our relationship with the Lord.  The Gospel story of Emmaus comes to mind when I think of Joe’s friendships.

And so, my second challenge, again acknowledged at Joe’s memorial service, is that if we continue, as we will, to compare Joe to the Lord, Joe would have real difficulty with that.

But my consolation within these days so close after Joe’s death, goes back to an older theology; as a priest, Joe was in fact, an “alter Christus,” another Christ.  We discern this each in our own way so we see him even now as an example of faith, of trust, of confidence, and a life well lived.  Joe continues to serve as an example.  Joe continues to encourage and inspire us.

In our memory we need to hold onto that.  In my experience, the quintessential Joe was the one loving us, accepting us, encouraging us, and being with us.

And so as a man of faith, as a man of service, and as a man of love we couldn’t ask for anyone better.

I’ve learned another thing about Joe that inspires me.  I began to imagine Joe skating.  “Get your skates.”  That’s another memory we can carry away, especially in these difficult times.  Joe would say that to each of us — “Get your skates and skate on!”

And so Joe is with us, Joe is praying for us and Joe is hoping that we, too, will be faithful in our lives, in our love and in our service. Amen

Biographical information

Father Schell was born on May 30, 1914, in Port Huron, Michigan. He attended St. James Grade School (1919-27) and Lakewood High School (1927-31), both in Lakewood, Ohio.  He entered the Society of Jesus August 31, 1931 at the Milford Novitiate in Milford.  He was ordained a priest at West Baden College in West Baden Springs, Indiana, on June 14, 1944 and pronounced final vows on February 2, 1949.

Father Schell served on the faculty of John Carroll University for 58 years.  He began teaching Philosophy shortly after ordination.  He chaired the Philosophy department (1950-64) and served as headmaster of student residences (1959-64). He was dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (1964-67) and served as President (1967-70).  Father Schell was the founding director of John Carroll's Campus Ministry program.  He moved to Colombiere Center in July, 2005, where he prayed for the Church and Society.