Jesus tells us that the greatest will be the least. Brian Kemper, SJ, reflects on embracing Christ’s call to self-forgetfulness in service to others. Based on the readings from the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Inside Jesuit Life: Prepping for the Priesthood in Theology Studies
Theology studies mark the final stage of Jesuit formation for priesthood. Fr. Brian Strassburger, SJ reflects on how experiences in the classroom, in parish and prison ministry, and in Jesuit community have prepared him for priestly ministry at the culmination of more than a decade of formation.
Embracing the Spirituality of Sport
As Pope Leo asks the Church to pray that sports promote peace and personal growth, Jackson Graham, SJ, reflects on the spirituality of lacrosse and how the sport has deepened his own relationship with God and broadened his understanding of Ignatian spirituality.
Inside a Jesuit Regency: Reflection from the Lord’s Vineyard
As a period dedicated fully to active ministry, Regency is perhaps the most straightforward yet unique stage of Jesuit formation. River Simpson, SJ offers glimpses from his time as a regent teaching at St. Louis University High School and reflects on how the labor and graces of Jesuit formation come to fruition for and through the people of God.
From “I Love You” to “I Love You”: Learning to Love My Vocation
“I love you” It just was the most believable utterance of that phrase I’ve ever heard, while sitting in an utterly unremarkable conference room transformed with incense and song into a place open to worship; somehow breaking through the stubborn habits of conventional self-assurance I felt forced to carry. For some, a vocation is automatic, an easy skin to fit into. For others, God’s call is great, the response is real, and yet it is something one must learn to love. Take a moment to read and pray with a reflection about my vocation, and maybe it will illuminate something about yours.
How a Road Trip with a Retired Franciscan Led to a Jesuit Vocation
Are any experiences in our life truly random? I used to be the kind of person to say “Everything happens for a reason.” I don’t believe that anymore. Instead, I believe that God can give reason to all that happens. Including a cross country road trip.
Soccer, VAR, and Theories of Truth
The big European soccer leagues are using VAR, and soccer fanatic Ian Peoples can’t help but feel it’s ruining the game. But is that true?
Women’s and Gender Studies is Integral to My Vocation
When the women’s and gender department first caught my eye, it was not just a passing, “Oh, look at that.” It was something more. It was the feeling that my mind and heart were on fire. Excited. Hopeful. Joyful. Captivated. Stirred. It felt like confirmation of what I already identified as: a feminist. The experience was what, in Jesuit lingo, we would call “consolation.” The Spirit was moving me. As I continue my studies, I continue to feel God calling me here. Read how all this has unfolded for me and my vocation, and maybe it might illuminate something in yours.
Anti-immigration sentiments aren’t leaving with Trump. What can we do about it?
President-elect Joe Biden has not put immigration at the top of his list of priorities. But we should. How can we build a culture of encounter to help reshape attitudes and policies around immigration? We can begin in our local parishes and schools. Here’s how.
My Vocation Story is a Tale of a 20 Year Approach/Avoidance Conflict
At eighteen, I studied theology and philosophy at the University of San Diego. After graduation I still wasn’t ready to join the seminary. So, I bounced over to Boston and earned a Master of Divinity. It’s there I first met the Society of Jesus. Even so, I was still hesitant to take the dive. So, I skipped back to San Diego and began a two-year stint as a hospital chaplain. And this is just the beginning of my vocation story! Take a moment to read more and maybe uncover – or perhaps rediscover – your own journey of God’s call for you.