The Reverend Donald Petkash, S.J. Fund for Ignatian Mission and Identity
To celebrate Walsh Jesuit High School’s 50th year in 2014, Barbara LaRose created this fund. LaRose, an alumni parent, former board member, current treasurer of the alumni mothers’ club and the 2014 Manresa Award recipient established this fund to honor Fr. Petkash for his many dedicated years of service to Walsh Jesuit High School, and, at his request, to support and fund the Ignatian Mission and Identity pursuits of the Walsh Jesuit community.
LaRose strongly believes it is important for lay leadership and Jesuits to collaborate in continuing to fulfill the Jesuit mission throughout the world. One of her favorite quotes reads, "Partnership and cooperation with others in the ministry is not a pragmatic strategy resulting from diminishing manpower; it is an essential dimension of the contemporary way of proceeding.” (DECREE 6 of the 34th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus).
With this passion, she felt that it was important to create the fund for many reasons; among them; the importance of deepening the understanding of Ignatian Spirituality within our community.
“Fr. Petkash has served at Walsh Jesuit for multiple generations and truly exemplifies the ‘magis’ through his leadership and in creating a strong Jesuit identity throughout the Walsh Jesuit community,” said Barbara LaRose. “My goal in creating the fund is to continue to see mission and identity as the heart of Walsh Jesuit High School and to honor the passion and commitment Fr. Petkash has given to the school for over 19 years.”
Father Petkash, S.J., was President of Walsh Jesuit from 1992-2003 and has been Vice President of Mission and Identity since 2010. It is through his tireless efforts that new faculty and staff receive formation in Ignatian spirituality each year and that the WJ wider community can experience the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises through the SPA retreat program.
LaRose has spent countless hours making Walsh Jesuit a better place over the last 20 years, and during her time at WJ, she has truly embraced Ignatian Spirituality. She earned her Masters of Arts in Humanities with a concentration in Religious Studies- Ignatian Spirituality from John Carroll University in 2012. She has completed two Ignatian pilgrimages, one to Rome and one to Spain, and is an Alpha Sigma NU – a member of the National Jesuit Honor Society at John Carroll University.
It is because of Barbara’s dedication to the mission of Walsh Jesuit High School that she initiated this endowment that will carry on the work of Ignatian Mission and Identity at Walsh Jesuit in honor of Fr. Donald Petkash, S.J.
As a Christ-centered community, we strive to be Men and Women for and with Others.
