“What a privilege to serve at this School! Our students come from all walks of life, from various age groups, and from many cultures. They bring rich experiences of life and ministry to the classroom and the school community. Through my service as a teacher, I have sought to support the school's mission of integrating faith and culture, and exploring a faith that does justice, of exploring the frontiers of theology.”
A native of northern Ohio, Dr. Lescher began his career as a high school English teacher before pursuing graduate study and doctoral work at the TGTU, focusing on American Catholic spirituality. Dr. Lescher came to JST in 1998 as a teacher and administrator, arriving from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. At JST, Dr. Lescher taught courses in Christian Spirituality, such as Transition and Transformation, a seminar on Thomas Merton, and an introduction to spirituality as an academic discipline for doctoral students. He also served as Associate Academic Dean, and he retired in 2018.
More recently, he has served students as a writing coach and a spiritual director.
Publications
Dr. Lescher has published several articles both in his field of specialization, American Catholic spirituality, and more broadly on issues of spiritual formation. Recent articles include:
- “Spirituality in the English-Speaking World Since Vatican II: An Overview,” Mysterion 8 (2015): 140-152.
- "Spiritual Direction in the Roman Catholic Tradition,” in John R. Mabry, ed., Spiritual Guidance Across Religions (Woodstock, VT: Skylights Paths Publishing, 2014), 262-274.
- Thomas Merton (1915-1968): New Seeds of Contemplation. in Christian Spirituality: The Classics, ed. Arthur Holder, Routledge, 2010, 353-364.
- Exploring Christian Spirituality: Essays in Honor of Sandra M. Schneiders, co-edited with Elizabeth Liebert, S.N.J.M., Paulist Press, 2006
- Diaknonia and the Diaconate, The New Westminster Dictionary of Christian Spirituality, Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, 241-143.
- “American Catholic Spirituality,” The Encyclopedia of American Catholic History, Liturgical Press, 1997, 45-53.
- “Catholicism and Postmodernity: Faithing Our Practice,” The Way, July 2001, 246-256.
- “Spiritual Direction: Stalking the Boundaries,” Handbook of Spirituality for Ministers, Vol. 2, Paulist Press, 2000.