St. Joseph Seminary

Michael Malucha

Whether he’s visiting with senior citizens or teaching young children, Michael Malucha is there to help.

Malucha, who is majoring in philosophy, goes out of his way to serve those in need—and to serve God as well. But he’s more than just a seminarian. He’s an excellent student who carries a 3.65 GPA while also working as a research fellow for the Joan & Bill Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage.

Here, he talks about his mentor, what service means to him, and where he hopes to be 10 years from now.

What’s your favorite Loyola memory?
Many of my favorite Loyola memories have been formed around Father Mark Bosco’s dining room table. I first met Father Bosco while taking his Sacraments course during my sophomore year. Since then, a couple of my classmates and I continue to gather in his home for delicious Italian food and edifying conversation—plus a lot of laughter. 

Talk a little about a professor or mentor who inspired you?
I am grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from and work with professor Michael Murphy, director of the Catholic studies program. Taking his religion and literature course bolstered my own desire to engage the Catholic intellectual and artistic tradition, and his commitment to our Catholic studies community has been a real gift.

Tell us about your volunteer work and/or involvement in student organizations and what it means to you.
Through the college seminary, I have had the privilege to bring the Eucharist to nursing home residents, visit with senior citizens in their homes, teach religion to third-graders, and serve the hungry at a soup kitchen. These experiences have allowed me to encounter Christ in some of society’s margins, be with people in their suffering, and learn to love more authentically from those whom I have served.

Any advice you would give students about how to get the most out of their time at Loyola?
Encounter beauty. This might seem a bit abstract—after all, I am a philosophy major—but amid the demands of school, a temptation can exist (at least for me) to turn inward, thus overlooking Loyola’s fertile religious, academic, and social life. Beauty shocks us out of this complacency and invites us back to be with others. For some it might be dinner with friends, service work, or a quiet moment in Madonna.  Whatever it is, seek it out. 

And finally, what do you hope to be doing 10 years from now?
In 10 years, I hope to be living and serving as a Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.