by Chris Kinkor, SJ | May 21, 2026 | Inside Jesuit Life ~ Approx. 4 mins
In the United States, Saint Louis University’s Bellarmine House of Studies is one of the two “First Studies” programs (the other, Ciszek Hall, is at Fordham University in New York City). During this stage in formation, Jesuit scholastics and brothers spend two or...
by Paul Gillam, SJ | Apr 14, 2026 | Inside Jesuit Life, Religious Life ~ Approx. 5 mins
Novitiate (noun): (1) an early stage of formation in a religious community. (2) the physical house where novices are trained. Example: Paul’s novitiate was from August 2023 to August 2025. His novitiate began in Culver City, California. Novice (noun): a person...
by Ignatius (Chí Nhân) Nguyễn | Aug 26, 2022 | Faith & Family, Prayers, Religious Life, Spirituality ~ Approx. 4 mins
When I was a teenager, I thought prayer was only private. When I prayed in private, it was a personal prayer between myself and God and saints. I sometimes wrestled with my prayers because I did not understand God’s love for me and felt uncomfortable accepting my...
by Nick Russell, SJ | Aug 19, 2022 | Jesuit 101, Religious Life, Spirituality, The Jesuits ~ Approx. 5 mins
The following reflection is part of our “Jesuit 101” series, celebrating the Ignatian Year. This piece helps us to better understand the Jesuit Vows. To learn more, check out our explainer article: “Jesuit 101: Vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience.” Last summer, I...
by Humberto (Beto) Guzmán Parra, SJ | Jul 28, 2022 | Religious Life, The Jesuits ~ Approx. 6 mins
A couple of years ago when I was a Jesuit novice, we visited the community of senior Jesuits living in Guadalajara as a community activity. Spending time with elder Jesuits and listening to their stories as teachers, Jesuit formators or missionaries has always been an...
