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Jesuits in First Studies at Loyola Chicago
The First Steps
Read Fr. Len Altilia,
S.J.'s article, which answers questions from teens about making
religious life a career choice! (Canoe Network)
The first steps in considering life as a Jesuit are very informal
and without obligation. A Jesuit vocation is ultimately a fraternal
relationship, and so the best way to learn more about us is to meet
a "live" Jesuit and to have a simple conversation with
him. Brother Christopher
Derby , S.J., the Director of Vocations, would be more than
happy to help arrange a meeting with a Jesuit Vocation Coordinator
in the inquirer's local area. The vocation office can also refer
inquirers living in other provinces to the vocation director director
for their province. Visit
our USA map for more information.
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Discernment & Application
After a period of reflection and conversation, the local Jesuit contact
may invite the man to join in a formal discernment program entitled,
the Jesuit Associates. As an Associate,
a man is offered several opportunities to learn about and experience
what life and ministry in the Society of Jesus involve.
Six Weeks a Jesuit 2006 |
After an appropriate period of discernment,
a man may elect to apply for admission into the Novitiate of
the Society of Jesus. The application process
is meant to be an experience of discernment through which the
Society of Jesus and an applicant enter freely and honestly
into an intense time of reflection, assessment and discovery.
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Through this process, the two strive with the help of the Holy
Spirit to discover the will of God, and they commit themselves to
a faith-filled response to it.
If admitted, the ordinary course of formation will take ten to
eleven years for most scholastics, and seven to eight years for
most brothers, entering the Society in the Maryland and New York
Provinces. As the Church and as the world around us change, the
fundamental thrust of our formation is to prepare priests
and brothers who are well educated, trained in the Spiritual
Exercises, with skills to minister in a diverse and ever changing
environment.
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The Novitiate
The first two years of a Jesuits life are spent in the novitiate
program. The four, fundamental goals during this time are verification
of one's vocation, a more intimate relationship with the Lord,
growth in authentic self knowledge and an increasing love for
the Society of Jesus. |
Syracuse, NY
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For the first-year novices, the first two weeks in the Novitiate
are a time for reading, discussion, and reflection in order to affirm
the man’s desire to be incorporated into the Jesuit Novitiate.
During their first semester, they participate in three classes:
conferences on Jesuit Life, its History and its Customs; an introduction
to the person of Jesus in Scripture; and basic or intermediate-level
Spanish. They also participate in a local ministry.
(l. to r.) Mark Fusco, sSJ, Kevin Spinale, nSJ, and Ben Brenkert,
nSJ. |
In January, the novices
make the Spiritual Exercises, a thirty-day, silent retreat developed
by St. Ignatius Loyola. Following the long retreat, they make
a pilgrimage to either Guadalajara, Mexico; Kingston, Jamaica;
or Pine Ridge, South Dakota; where they live, work, and pray
alongside Jesuits in another culture. |
The first-year novices reunite in late spring to work at Calvary
Hospital, located in the Bronx. At Calvary, novices work together
with hospital caregivers to meet the basic, physical needs of terminal
cancer patients. Early June brings each novice to his respective
province for Ordinations and Province Days. Finally, he returns
to Syracuse for a period of reflection and rest, and later the opportunity
to visit his family.
The second-year novices also live in Syracuse during the first
semester and participate in two classes plus selected seminars.
In addition, they engage in local ministry. From January through
May, each novice works full-time at a Jesuit apostolate. In June,
they return to Syracuse for a vow retreat lasting eight days in
preparation for their profession of perpetual vows of poverty, chastity,
and obedience in the Society of Jesus.
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At the end of this two-year period of prayer, work and study,
the novice pronounces perpetual vows of poverty, chastity
and obedience either as a brother or as a scholastic who will
prepare for priestly ordination. The vow ceremony takes place
in mid-August.
Meet
the 2006 Novices
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First Vows 2006 |
First Studies
The ordinary program for men
in first studies entails two years of graduate level philosophy
study and one year of graduate level theology study for scholastics.
Brothers will usually take several theology courses and work on
a Masters Degree in a field of interest. There are three First Studies
programs in the U.S. that men are sent to: St.
Louis University; Loyola
University Chicago, and Fordham
University (Ciszek
Hall). Some men engage in international programs of first studies.
Francis Jibke, SJ, and
Angel Rivera, SJ.
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If a man enters without a Bachelors
Degree, then he will complete his BA degree during this time,
usually majoring in philosophy.
The program for scholastics at Fordham University is the MA
in Philosophical Resources. The men in formation live at Ciszek
Hall. (Read Getting
There, an article about Ciszek Hall, by Fr. George
McCauley, in PDF format.) |
They are full-time graduate students and give about six to eight hours
a week to apostolic work in the surrounding-neighborhood (catechism,
tutoring, youth groups, etc.). The ordinary course work for scholastics
is: 36 graduate hours of philosophy, 24 graduate hours of theology,
and 12 graduate hours of electives. This is four graduate courses
each semester. Brothers follow a similar schedule of studies in a
field other than philosophy. One, of the theology courses focuses
on "social analysis" and how to integrate study, reflection and action.
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Regency
The the three years of regency are a time for men to be fully involved
in the apostolic work and community life of the Provinces. Men are
assigned to two or three years of regency depending on their age,
apostolic needs of the Provinces, and individual apostolic desires.
Over the years about 50% of the men are assigned to high schools,
30% to universities, and 20% to social and pastoral ministries.
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Theology Studies
Since scholastics did one year of theology during First Studies,
they now need to do three more years to fulfill the Church's four-year
requirement for priestly ordination. Usually men will complete the
Master of Divinity degree and an S.T.L. during these three years.
Brothers will often complete a one or two year degree program in
theology or religious education at this time. In addition to their
studies each man will give six to eight hours each week to pastoral
ministries (spiritual direction, campus ministries parish work,
etc.) under the guidance of the field education supervisor. Most
men go to either Weston
Jesuit School of Theology or Jesuit
School of Theology at Berkeley with a few studying outside of
the U.S.A.
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Since 1981 the Society has required that each man seeking
ordination participate in an "Arrupe Experience." This experience
of retreat, discussion and reflection on priesthood is done
during the summer before the second year. Afterwards, men
formally petition the Provincials for ordination to the diaconate
and priesthood. |
Ordination Day 2006
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Ordination to the diaconate ordinarily occurs in the fall semester
of the last year, and to the priesthood in June of the last year of
studies.
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Summer Experiences
During the course of formation most men will have seven
summers available after novitiate. These summers are utilized
to further the individual's formation in four particular areas:
the study of Spanish or another language; an experience of the international
Society; further ministry with those who are poor; and training
in the Spiritual Exercises and Spiritual Direction.
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Graduate Studies
Usually men will do further graduate studies at the Masters or
Doctoral level after they have completed the ordinary course of
formation. Proposals for graduate studies are submitted to the Provincials'
Assistant for Formation and these are reviewed by the studies committee
for recommendation to the provincials. This review of the studies
proposal critically examines the man's aptitude for studies, the
Province's apostolic needs, and the appropriateness of the proposed
university and degree program.
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Tertianship
Tertianship in India
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The Provincial usually invites men to begin tertianship three
to five years after finishing formation or graduate studies.
There are two types of tertianship programs offered in the
U.S.A. The first is a seven to nine month program that runs
during the academic year, and the second is a two-year program
that runs during two consecutive summers. In both programs,
tertians study the foundational documents of the Society of
Jesus, make the 30-day retreat, study the Spiritual Exercises,
and participate in an apostolic experiment chosen by the tertian
master.
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Final Vows
After the tertianship period, the Jesuit is called
to final vows in the Society of Jesus.
Fr. Lito Salazar,
SJ professes final vows.
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Visit our Meet
the Jesuits pages for more information about
Jesuit priests and brothers in the Maryland and New York Provinces
who are currently in each of these stages of formation. |
| This
page details the process of becoming a Jesuit priest or brother,
from an initial inquiry to the profession of final vows. |
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Jesuit
Novices serve at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx, NY. |
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