It was a day of celebration and happy memories as the Regis St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology (RSM) community gathered to pay tribute to three long-standing professors and wish them well as they head into retirement.
Professors Joseph Schner, SJ, John L. McLaughlin, and Michael Stoeber, all of whom have been teaching at Regis College or St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology for decades, were the guests of honour at the late afternoon event, held at Regis College.
RSM Dean Jaroslav Skira offered introductions, noting how bittersweet the moment was. He shared his happiness at being able to celebrate the many contributions to teaching, the community and to scholarship of the retirees, but also expressed how keenly aware he was of what the absence of such valuable and committed colleagues and friends will mean.
Schner, Professor Emeritus, Psychology and Psychology of Religion, a man who has held numerous roles at Regis and the Toronto School of Theology, received gentle ribbing from his colleagues, who noted that this was his second retirement, a fact that speaks to his dedication to theological education and to Regis, they added. Schner came to Regis in 2002 from Campion College in Regina, where he had served as President. He was appointed Interim President of Regis in 2003 and continued in that role until 2011, and then filled it again from 2015-2017. He first retired in 2017 but continued to teach as a Professor Emeritus.
Professor Gordon Rixon, S.J., President of Regis College, told the gathering that Schner had offered invaluable assistance and insight into the talks that led up to the Regis St. Michael’s federation. He smiled as noted that Schner would play “good cop” to Rixon’s “bad cop” when dealing with contractors handling renovations to the Regis College building, adding that sometimes the two would switch roles, and that Schner was “very effective” in both.
RSM Professor Michael Attridge offered a video tribute to his long-time friend and colleague McLaughlin, who joined the Faculty in 2004. Attridge offered not only his own memories but also those of former students and others in the world of biblical scholarship. (McLaughlin specializes in Old Testament/Hebrew Bible and is an Associate Member of the Graduate Faculty, Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, University of Toronto.)
Attridge spoke to McLaughlin’s booming laugh, impressive singing voice, his various forms of service to the Faculty community and his attention to detail, as well as the pleasure many found in sharing a pint with McLaughlin while talking about the Bible, life, and God.
The accolades Attridge gathered spoke to how McLaughlin helped his students learn how to teach, and how he brought the Hebrew Bible to life.
“John loved what he taught,” shared Attridge.
Professor Michael Stoeber Professor of Spirituality and Philosophy of Religion, was feted by colleague Professor John Dadosky as the first layperson to join the Regis Faculty, arriving in 2000. Dadosky, who met Stoeber the following year, cited his colleague’s firm belief that the world will be saved by beauty.
Noting that Stoeber had come to Regis from Catholic University of America, Dadosky said, “their loss is our gain.”
Referencing Stoeber’s prolific publishing record and his supervision of 19 dissertations, Dadosky offered particular praise for Stoeber’s work on transformational suffering, mystical experience and post-coloniality.
Additional praise was proffered for Stoeber’s work as a visual artist and to his contributions as a consultant to the Art Gallery of Ontario leading up to the Mystical Landscapes exhibit.
After numerous tributes from a variety of speakers, the guests of honour offered a few words in response.
Schner told the celebration that it had been 50 years since he had graduate from Regis and been ordained a Jesuit.
“Regis will always be a part of me,” he said.
Stoeber noted that his formal departure would not be until March of 2025 and offered praise for his caring colleagues and the enthusiastic staff with whom he had worked.
And McLauglin noted that, as he’d done his graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from St. Mike’s in 1983, he’s been associated with the Faculty for more than half his life. With a planned return to his hometown of St. John, New Brunswick, coming, he left the door open for all to join him in some dulce and have a lobster supper.