Welcome Father Lingan, S.J. ’75

This summer, Father Joseph E. Lingan, S.J. ’75 began his tenure as the 37th President of Gonzaga College High School. As a member of Gonzaga’s Class of 1975, Father Lingan has the distinction of being the only alumnus to ever serve as president. In addition he is the only person to serve in this role twice, as he stepped in as interim President of Gonzaga following the untimely death of Father Allen Novotny, S.J. in 2010.

He comes to Gonzaga at a crucial time — as we both recover from the disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic and celebrate our Bicentennial anniversary. We sat down with him to talk about his time as a student on Eye Street, his decision to enter the Jesuits, his hopes for Gonzaga’s future, and more.

Welcome,

Father Lingan, S.J. ’75!

Can you tell us about your family’s history with Gonzaga? Why did you choose to come here in the early 70s and what was your time like on Eye Street as a student?

To make a long story short, my parents wanted their sons to go to a Catholic high school. They chose Gonzaga because it was a Jesuit school. Thus, my oldest brother, Jim ’66, came to Gonzaga in the Fall of ’62, and the remaining Lingan brothers followed—Tom ’70, Bob ’73, and then myself, graduating in 1975. Later, my nephew, Casey ’96, Jim’s son, came to Gonzaga. My family was like many others who have come to Gonzaga—once we were caught by the “purple hook” or the “Spirit of the Eagle,” we were all in. In fact, my mother served as president of the Mothers Club, and my father served as president of the Fathers Club. Thus, when it came time to decide which high school I would attend, there was no question … GONZAGA! I enjoyed my student days at Gonzaga. I had fine classmates; good guys to be sure! There was a vibrancy on campus, always something going on to keep us engaged. The Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, and Watergate were the historical occurrences during this time. At the same time, both Gonzaga and Washington, D.C. were beginning what would prove to be significant transitions that would forever change our school and city. It was an exciting time as I recall.

Did your four years on Eye Street inform your decision to enter the Society of Jesus?

As I reflect back on it now, I would have to say that my four years at Gonzaga certainly had an influence on my decision to enter the Society of Jesus. Although, if someone told me at the time that I would one day be a Jesuit priest, I likely would have laughed at the possibility. In addition to the Jesuits themselves, probably the most significant influence was a religion course on Ignatian Prayer that I took my senior year. That course was my first significant introduction to Ignatian Spirituality. After graduating from Gonzaga, I continued to pray in an Ignatian way, and my relationship with Jesus deepened throughout my college years. I say all that while admitting that I am not a pious fellow. Nonetheless, I do experience and enjoy a solid and meaningful belief in and relationship with Jesus.

Tell us a bit about your time since graduating from Gonzaga—where you went to college and graduate school, why you decided to join the Jesuits, and where your career has taken you over the years?

After graduating from Gonzaga in 1975, I attended Virginia Tech, which I graduated from in 1979 with a degree in Public Administration. As I mentioned earlier, while in college I continued to pray regularly. I felt my faith was a very private and personal matter, yet my relationship with Jesus grew, and it became important to me, although quite personal. Simply put, I thought about the possibility of being a priest, and a Jesuit. So, I discreetly inquired, and frankly, the more I looked, the more I liked. Sincerely, I felt drawn toward it. So, during my senior year at Tech, I applied to the Jesuits. It was

a serious process; one of discernment for the Society of Jesus, as well as for me. In the spring of 1979 I received word of my acceptance into the Novitiate and entered the Jesuits that August. It has been a wonderfully graced experience, and while I admit, this life is not for everyone, it is for some of us, and it has been for me. It has been a wonderful life! I pronounced my first vows in August of 1981 and continued on with further studies. I studied the humanities at Creighton University, philosophy at St. Louis University, and theology at the Weston School of Theology and Boston College, earning degrees along the way. I was ordained to the priesthood in 1990, and have had the opportunity to work in secondary education, higher education, pastoral/spiritual ministry, as well as work in Jesuit formation of both Jesuit novices and scholastics. In addition, I have had the opportunity to live and work in a variety of places on the East Coast, in the Midwest, and in the Northwest of the United States. It has been a great ride thus far.

You have had four different stints here at Gonzaga—as a student, a teacher, an interim president and now president. Can you tell us a bit about each of those, and how each experience has informed the one that follows it?

Wow! That is a hard question to answer briefly. Each “stint” has been unique. For my part, I was at a different point in my own life, and the positions I held offered different responsibilities and required a different focus. As a student, I was learning in the moment, but looking ahead toward going to college. As a teacher, my focus was on educating and caring for my students, helping them to be better learners. I was mindful that they, too, were looking ahead toward college. As interim president (20102011), my focus was on consoling a grieving community (following the sudden death of Fr. Novotny), and helping to prepare the community for new leadership, a new president. And now, as president, I am immediately focused on fully opening our school following the necessary pivot caused by the pandemic, and on celebrating Gonzaga’s Bicentennial. Longer term, I am focused on ensuring Gonzaga’s continued educational and institutional success. As I reflect on this question and my response, there is a clear progression to these “stints.” Further, the common thread in each is a posture of looking ahead or forward toward future possibilities; a sense of growth and potential that suggests a genuine and authentic optimism that is enlivening.

In your view, how has Gonzaga changed over the past 50 years? How has it stayed the same?

The most notable change is Gonzaga’s growth. Growth in enrollment, academic programming, extra-curricular activities, athletic programming, and in the size of our campus (from when I was a student). One alumnus recently said to me, “Father, Gonzaga has changed . . . it is better!” He went on to say, “Don’t get me wrong, Gonzaga was good when I was here, but it is better today. It is a GREAT school!” That said, there is one notable stable quality: the Gonzaga Spirit! However, upon reflection, perhaps the Gonzaga Spirit has grown too. The Gonzaga Spirit is an infectious, an empowering spirit, an enduring spirit, and a Holy Spirit! I see it in our alumni, our students, our

the world have changed over the past ten years and this, too, has had a ripple effect on Gonzaga. Thus, the world our students are readying to enter and engage requires a certain moral and skill set, all of which impacts our curriculum and formation efforts.

parents, and our faculty, staff, and administration. The Gonzaga Spirit is such a gift!

I’ve heard you say that Gonzaga has even changed quite a bit since your time here a decade ago. Can you talk about that? How has it changed in that relatively short period of time?

Well, in some respects, the history of a high school is rewritten every four years. Over the last ten years, the physical campus has changed— we now have the terrific parking garage and the Eye Street Campus. There have been a number of faculty and staff retirements, so there are a lot of new faculty and staff, not to mention the students and parents, since I was here ten years ago. In addition, the changes and progression of technology have impacted our educational endeavors. Finally, clearly, the nation and

Why were you excited to come back as President? What motivates and/or inspires you about this role?

Going back to my beginnings here, I am keenly aware of the gift Gonzaga has been for me and my family. I am excited to help ensure that Gonzaga continues to be a gift to and for the Gonzaga family of today and tomorrow. Further, I am aware of all that Gonzaga has given to me and how my experience with Gonzaga has contributed to my personal and professional growth. To serve now as Gonzaga’s president is an opportunity for me to give back to Gonzaga and I am so grateful for that opportunity.

You’ve returned to Gonzaga during a momentous year: our Bicentennial. Tell us about what this milestone means for Gonzaga and how we are celebrating it as an institution.

For Gonzaga, or for that matter any institution, to endure for 200 years is a remarkable achievement; not an achievement of one individual, but of many, in fact generations of many. Further, at 200, Gonzaga is not old, but historic and strong. Thanks be to God! And thanks be to those who have been here before us, and thanks be to those who are here now, poised with confidence toward a stable and abiding future. In 1821, it was believed that this school was needed to help serve and educate the young men of Washington and in turn serve this city. In 2021, I humbly and firmly acknowledge that Gonzaga is needed more than ever, and a Gonzaga Man for Others, is needed more than ever.

When you look ahead to Gonzaga’s next 200 years, what do you hope for and envision?

This is a moment when we should, appropriately, look back, reflect, and be grateful. But it is also a moment when we should look ahead, and plan ahead; to continue to build on our solid foundation and ensure Gonzaga’s future. This is a moment to acknowledge our successes, and to learn from our failures, and think ahead, dream ahead. A wonderful Jesuit motto is “The Magis,” which means the more! This is a time to ask this question of Gonzaga: What more can Gonzaga be? What more can Gonzaga do . . . for our students, for our community, for our future? Today, my hope and vision for Gonzaga is a bright future. That she continues to be a sure, steady, and influential presence in the greater Washington area, and continues to be a leader in secondary education in this region and beyond. We are a GREAT school and it is my hope and vision that we will remain so for many, many, years to come.