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Father David L Fleming SJ
In Memorian: 1934 - 2011
Father David L. Fleming SJ died March 22, 2011, at the Fusz Pavilion in St. Louis, Missouri, after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. He was a Jesuit for 58 years. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, on July 4, 1934, he entered the Society of Jesus at St. Stanislaus Seminary in Florissant, Missouri, on August 8, 1952. Fleming was ordained to the priesthood on June 9, 1965, at St. Mary's College in Kansas.
In 1979 he was appointed Provincial of the Missouri Province. Fleming guided the province with wisdom and grace through a challenging period in the Society's history as Father General Pedro Arrupe resigned due to a debilitating stroke and Father Paolo Dezza was appointed as a pontifical delegate to serve as the interim leader of the Society of Jesus.
In 1988 Fleming became the editor of Review for Religious, a position he held for over 22 years. Under his guidance, the journal provided thoughtful reflections on contemporary religious life to readers throughout the world. He was a well-known author and speaker on Ignatian spirituality. His writings include Draw Me into Your Friendship: A Literal Translation and a Contemporary Reading of the Spiritual Exercises and What is Ignatian Spirituality?