Phoebe Young, Staff Writer
Saint Martin’s has an abundance of amazing professors, one of them being Dr. Luzarraga, who teaches theology and religious studies here, and serves as the chair of the department. He loves traveling and meeting people, movies and live theater, going to baseball games, and attending SMU sporting events. This is only Dr. Luzarraga’s second semester at Saint Martin’s, but he has been teaching for 19 years now. However, he did not always know he wanted to teach.
“I thought I would become a lawyer,” he told me. “However, Dr. Elizabeth Krauss, one of my philosophy professors at Fordham University, where I earned my undergraduate degree, invited me to take her doctoral seminar on the thought of the French philosopher Henri Bergson. Suddenly, I was with people almost twice my age and didn’t make a fool of myself. I got an A in the class. This led to other graduate courses in philosophy, which made me realize I had a strong interest in philosophy and theology. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to teach until I was given my first classes at Marquette University, where I earned my doctorate. There, I taught courses for traditional and non-traditional students. I enjoyed the work and received strong, positive feedback. That sealed what my vocation would be: a university professor.”
Dr. Luzarraga is originally from Philadelphia, where he actually had the opportunity to ring the Liberty Bell.
I did not get explicit permission to ring that bell. But, when the park ranger handed me the rubber mallet she used to ring the bell, I made the logical deduction and rang it for myself. It may now hold a hairline crack with my name on it!
Since then, he has been a bit of a rolling stone throughout his life.
“My father’s work took me and my family to New Orleans and New York City. My studies and my work as a professor took me to New York City, New Haven, Connecticut, Milwaukee, Dayton, Ohio, Phoenix, and now here.”
Since moving here, he has fallen in love with the pacific northwest.
“I moved here last May from Phoenix to take on the position I hold here at Saint Martin’s: Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies. Having lived in the desert for eight years, I now appreciate why Jesus Christ spent no more than 40 days at a time there. I love the Puget Sound area. It reminds me of my life on the East Coast, only the mountains here are more majestic and uniquely beautiful in every season and every time of day when I can see them.”
This is part of what he loves about Saint Martin’s as well.
“The setting is very beautiful. It is the most beautiful campus I have ever worked at!”
Although the beautiful setting is not the only thing he loves about our school.
“The abbey and its community, which I consider my parish for daily Mass or prayer, is decisively important for a Catholic university like ours. It distinguishes life and study here from other universities. Any university can teach you how to make a living. A Catholic university has the freedom and ability to teach you how to develop a life worth living.”
Although this is only Dr. Luzarraga’s second semester here, he’s already made some wonderful memories, one of his favorites being the Gala.
“One of my students, Laia Currius, nominated me to be honored by our Women’s basketball team. It was a novel experience to run between two rows of cheerleaders and coaches being rah-rahed and high-fived. I am grateful for having received that honor so early in my time here.”
He also recalls fondly, “Meeting with the Saint Martin’s leadership, my department colleagues, and the leadership of the Archdiocese of Seattle and the Diocese of Yakima, as we plan to build up this department and its programs in partnership with the Catholic Church in western and central Washington.”
When I asked Dr. Luzarraga what advice he would give to students, he passed on some advice he received in college.
“One of my professors at Fordham told me to ‘let college happen.’ It is important to plan ahead, but be open to being surprised. You may experience a class which opens up an entirely new horizon,” which he said is what happened to him. He also advised that, “If you are offered the opportunity to continue your education after Saint Martin’s, take it! And, always complete your degrees and other training, even if you are not sure how it will benefit you. We are, for better and for worse, a credential-driven society. Having credentials opens up opportunities.”
Finally, Dr. Luzarraga left me with this:
“A University with an Abbey at its heart teaches the underappreciated skill, at least in our country at this time, of being quiet. Action is productive only if it is backed by sound theory. Discovering sound theory takes a great deal of quiet time to think, meditate, and pray about.”
The Belltower 