By Rev. Bill Dorwart, C.S.C.
Everyone knows Fr. Art Wheeler. A fixture in Arts and Sciences for almost twenty years, the Director of Overseas programs, the Pastoral Resident in Mehling Hall and an avid Pilot fan known to burn the candle at both ends, Fr. Art has met nearly every student on campus.
During final exams, as you looked forward to the Christmas feast and the semester break, the other Fr. Art died. Having served many generations of the University of Portland family, this Fr. Art was simply (affectionately) known as "Padre."
A Portland native, the young boy Art Schoenfeldt was at home studying on The Bluff. Here on campus he met members of the Congregation of Holy Cross who would later become his family in faith. As a youthful Holy Cross religious and priest, Fr. Art worked for a number of years on various campuses in the west before returning home to UP where he spent the last three decades quietly, gently serving this university community.
You may not have had the chance to meet "Padre" because declining health limited his ability to circulate during the past couple of years. However, you may remember him at Sunday morning Mass in the Chapel where he would make his way from where the concelebrants sit on the side, taking a seat front and center near the pulpit. Along with his health, Fr. Art's hearing was failing. Eager to hear the Gospel and to grasp the homilist's message he was drawn closer to the sanctuary. If the preacher was too soft-spoken, Padre would cup his hand behind his ear as a gentle reminder that the Good News needs to be proclaimed for all to hear.
After Christmas, Fr. Wheeler encountered a returning student who exclaimed: "thank God you're OK, I heard over break that you had died!" He replied, "oh, that was the other Fr. Art, I'm still with you." That was good news to the student's ears (no doubt for Fr. Art too!). And Padre? He has now drawn closer to the Lord whose love and promise he proclaimed among us so well.
As the New Year and a new semester get underway here on The Bluff may each of us find ourselves at home gently abiding with one another in study, in service - announcing good news.
The Rev. Bill Dorwart, C.S.C., is the director of Campus Ministry
