Note: This message was originally sent on December 7, 2025.
In honor of Father Coughlin’s birthday (he would have been 103 today), sharing the following reflection
Perhaps Father’s most poignant moment in his storied career at Gonzaga was on a visit to a local hospital to see his friend Harry Magnuson, who was instrumental in supporting him in his early days as president.
“Harry reached out and took my hand. He said ‘Father (he always called me Father), it’s all about love. It is ALL about love.’
“It meant so much to me to hear him say those words. ‘It’s all about love.’ As St. John said, ‘God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.’ As it turned out, that was Harry’s final day on Earth.
Thank you for the ways you support Gonzaga and care for one another. In the spirit Father Bernard Coughlin lived—where leadership was rooted in love—you remind us that our greatest strength is a community built on generosity, compassion, and faith.
Additional stories of remembrance: