Br. Joseph Martin

Br. Joseph Martin spent many of his active years at Lewis University, teaching "Introduction to Christianity" and later becoming a fixture in the fabric of community life there. He is a man who believes deeply in the power of genuine listening — and who has gathered, over the years, more than a few stories that make the case for it.

One semester while teaching at Lewis, Br. Joseph was grading final exams and came across a note on the first page of a student's blue book. She had written: "Please read and correct my entire exam before reading the last page." Intrigued, he worked through the whole exam. Only when he turned to the final page did he discover what she had to say: she was inspired by his class. After graduation, she planned to attend a Lutheran seminary and be ordained. "There are some things money can't buy," Br. Joseph says simply, "and her comment was priceless."

If he could give students one gift, it would be the ability to listen attentively — truly hear what another person is saying rather than simply preparing a rebuttal. In a culture of shouting and talking past one another, he sees that capacity as both rare and essential.

In retirement, Br. Joseph has remained thoroughly active. He mentored Brothers from the Lwanga District of Africa as they pursued doctoral degrees at Lewis, helping them navigate everything from community life to medical appointments, until they could manage independently. He volunteers in the university's Archives, supports a student scholarship fund, and continues more than 50 years of family history research. His evenings often involve mystery novels, Netflix — Star Trek and The Crown among his favorites — Scrabble against his Kindle, and the steady work of organizing community prayer schedules and calendars. Retirement, for Br. Joseph, is simply life with different responsibilities.