Clothed in his unmistakable black outfit and white Roman Collar, Fr. Joseph Hill S.J. has spent the past six years ministering to the students of St. Louis U. High, but after this school year, he will continue on in his priestly ministry, becoming the vocations director for the Central-Southern Province based in Tampa Bay, Fla. 

Hill was assigned to SLUH in 2016 to lead the Campus Ministry team, help in the Theology Department, and provide the sacraments to the students and staff of SLUH. Coming into SLUH, Hill knew that his mission was simple, to fulfill the Jesuit mission and the vows he took when he was ordained. 

“From the (Jesuit) Constitution's number 307, ‘Instead as we pursue advanced societies to aid its own members and their neighbors and attain the ultimate end for which they were created.’ And this is our number seven: ‘one of the leading ministries of our societies teaching our neighbors all the disciplines in keeping with our institute in such a way that they are thereby arousing the knowledge and love of our maker and Redeemer’—that is my purpose here at SLUH,” said Hill.

Over his time at SLUH, Hill has taught numerous courses including two which he helped design: the junior Morality course and the Ignatian Spirituality and Prayer senior elective.

 “The revisions we did to the junior theology classes and the creation of the Ignatian Spirituality and Prayer class have been very fruitful,” said Hill. “These are the things that are going to last after I leave I hope.” 

While at SLUH, Hill has taught a wide range of classes, ranging from freshman theology to Ignatian Spirituality. 

“I was in his theology class freshman year and we were studying the prophets. So he took us outside and he had a glass bowl and a staff to teach us about some of the crazy things with 

examples. We were talking about Jeremiah, and as he was reading, he takes the glass jar in his hand and just throws it down in front of all of us and it just shatters everywhere,” said junior Joey Inserra.

“Fr. Hill’s (Ignatian Spirituality) class  has really helped me deepen my prayer life and strengthen my faith,” said senior Dominic Fiordelisi. “And I don’t think any teacher could have taught it nearly as well.”

Hill’s work in Campus Ministry and his presence there have left an impact on many students. 

“For me, Fr. Hill has just been a warm and welcoming presence in Campus Ministry,” said junior Jared Thornberry. “Whether it is through greeting the Pastoral Team or in daily chats, Fr. Hill always brings a joyful and energetic manner.” 

“His general energy is the best. Whenever he enters Campus Ministry in the morning, he’s like ‘hey what's up guys!’ and he is never afraid to start a conversation,” said Inserra. “So if I’m not really having like the greatest morning, he's always around to talk to and cheer me up and I am really going to miss that.” 

During his time at SLUH, Hill has helped many faculty members grow in their own faith lives, someone people felt like they could approach for spiritual encouragement and help. 

“I have never had a friend before that if I go to them with something I'm stressed out about or something that I am worrying about they can off the top of their head tell me to go read this very specific passage in the Bible and then pray on it for guidance. And and that's what Fr. Hill always does,” said science teacher Megan Menne. “He’s always pushing me to grow in my relationship with God and in strengthening my own faith and spiritual life.”

For the past six years at SLUH, Hill has dedicated himself to spreading the faith with passion and zeal. He has put in countless hours forming ideas on how to help the students form their faith lives, developing a four-year retreat and service plan, and working on countless projects to spread the faith. The energy, dedication, and excitement he shows continues to be noticed by his fellow faculty members on a daily basis. 

“He is always looking at how to improve things and he’s not afraid to change things,” said Menne. “If there's something that can be done better than he's not afraid to jump in and say ‘Alright, let's see what we can do to fix this and make it better,’ even if it means changing something that's been the same for a really long time.” 

“Fr. Hill asks some really good questions to help us do some self-reflection as an administration, as a school, and as a department.” said Campus Minister Julie Anderson. “He really understands our mission, and if we are not doing something that is helping the growth of individuals and souls than he figures out what we need to be doing to help meet them where they are and help draw them to a deeper and closer relationship with God.” 

“I think that we all can learn a lot from Fr. Hill,” said Inserra. “And if we all work towards, and   learn from his example, SLUH would not go unchanged.”