JESUITS Magazine Summer 2024

JESUITS USA EAST PROVINCE

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SUMMER 2024

LIVING THE GOSPEL IN

Faith, service AND

JOY

JES

UITS

USA EAST

OVINCE O

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PR

FROM OUR PROVINCIAL Very Rev. Joseph M. O’Keefe, SJ

Dear Friends, It has indeed been a busy year so far for the USA East Province. Our Apostolic Plan was approved by Father General Sosa—details of which are in this issue—and we have had many new Jesuit appointments—see our New Appointments page. One of the key priorities of the Apostolic Plan is to foster transformative Jesuit communities. I have already combined several Jesuit communities to help improve the quality of our shared community life and to free up more Jesuits for apostolic missions. This is especially important for our younger Jesuits to thrive.

“As for joy, as little as one can have of it in this life, experience shows that it is not the idle who possess it, but those who are zealous in the service of God.” —St. Ignatius Loyola

Speaking of younger Jesuits, this issue of our magazine features an article on our formation process and the journey a Jesuit makes from the novitiate to ordination to final vows. Your support for these men of faith enables them to fulfill their call of service to the Lord. We also highlight how our Jesuit Nativity Schools are a year-round mission, providing cura personalis for these boys throughout the summer months. In addition, Fr. Julio Giulietti, SJ, our Jesuit in Vietnam, writes about his relationship with three young Vietnamese doctors and their willingness to serve selflessly.

Serving as Provincial of such a robust and active province is such a blessing and honor for me. It does of course come with many challenges, especially funding for our apostolic work, our men in formation, and health care for our senior Jesuits. You, our partners in mission, keep this province moving forward. Your generosity is heartfelt.

Please keep Jesuits USA East in your prayers and know that we hold you in ours. Blessings to you and your families, and may the remainder of 2024 be safe and prosperous.

Sincerely in Christ,

Very Rev. Joseph M. O’Keefe, SJ Provincial, USA East Province

ABOUT OUR COVER Newly ordained Jesuits Brendan Coffey, SJ, and Thomas Elitz, SJ, enjoy a moment with Cardinal Stephen Chow, SJ, Bishop of Hong Kong and ordaining prelate.

Editors Michael Gabriele PJ Williams Design Capers Design Advancement Loual Puliafito, Provincial Assistant for Advancement Please address all correspondence to JESUITS magazine: JesuitsMagazine@jesuits.org

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JESUITS is published by the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus.

The opinions expressed are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily constitute the official policy of the Society of Jesus.

In the Fullness of Time: A Jesuit's Journey of Formation ..................4

©2024 All rights reserved.

Printed in the USA. Printed on recycled paper

Features

USA East Province 39 East 83rd Street New York, NY 10028-0810 212-774-5500

Camp at Nativity Schools – Summer programs outside the classroom give students the opportunity to learn what it means to be “men for others.”

Camp at Nativity Schools ..................................................................8 Meet our 2024 Jesuits Ordained to the Priesthood..........................12 Apostolic Planning........................................................................... 15 Matthew 25 Doctors.........................................................................16 A Conversation Among Spiritual Directors of Color........................ 20 The Jesuit Gala 2024....................................................................... 22 Advancing Our Mission.................................................................... 24

More

on the web www.JesuitsEast.org

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7FROM THE PROVINCE

LEADERSHIP

and

news

New Appointments

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families. He was most recently chief operating officer of Next One Up, an organization that helps city youth excel in their academic journeys and extra-curricular programs.

He succeeds Fr. William Watters, SJ, who founded the school.

Earlier this year, the Saint Peter’s University Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Hubert Benitez, DDS, PhD, as the school's 23rd president.

Dr. Benitez began his appointment on July 1, 2024. He succeeds Eugene J. Cornacchia, PhD, who retired in June after 17 years as president. Dr. Benitez has most recently served as president and chief executive officer of American International College in Springfield, Mass., and has significant experience with public, private and Jesuit higher education institutions.

James Fiore, a veteran nonprofit leader with extensive experience in Jesuit education, has been appointed the second president of The Loyola School, a growing Jesuit preschool and elementary that serves low-income Baltimore City

On July 1, 2024, Fr. Brendan Gottschall, SJ, assumed the role of Assistant Director and Promoter of Vocations. He will be in this position for the next two years. Fr. Gottschall was ordained to the priesthood at Fordham University on June 8, 2024.

Fr. John Hanwell, SJ, who has served as socius of the USA Northeast Province and USA East Province, has assumed his new role as the Provincial Assistant for Formation. Fr. Hanwell will oversee the different stages of formation that men in the Society go through leading up to their final vows.

Shevaun A. Low has been appointed the new Executive Director at Gonzaga Eastern Point Retreat House in Gloucester, Mass., succeeding Fr. William Campbell, SJ. She earned a Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry at Boston College’s Clough School of Theology and Ministry and trained as a spiritual director in the Sisters of St. Joseph’s Spiritual Direction Intern Initiative program. Low recently served as a Chaplain Resident at Massachusetts General Hospital in its Clinical Pastoral Education program.

Fr. Patrick Nolan, SJ, assumed the role of Provincial Assistant for Vocation Ministry. He previously served as the Director of Campus Ministry and Ignatian Identity at Gonzaga College Preparatory School in Washington, D.C. His predecessor, Fr. Philip A. Florio, SJ, served as the Provincial Assistant for Vocation Ministry for the past seven years.

Campion College at the University of Regina in Saskatchewan, Canada has announced the appointment of USA East Jesuit Fr. Joseph P. Riordan, SJ, as its ninth president, effective July 1, 2025. Fr. Riordan serves at Regis College in Toronto as a sessional lecturer in Scripture and, prior to that, was a professor of the Old Testament at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome.

Earlier this summer, Stephen R. Salluzzo started his new role as the 16th president of McQuaid Jesuit in Rochester, N.Y. Mr. Salluzzo, a McQuaid Jesuit alumnus, brings significant leadership experience from his tenure as President of Bishop Kearney High School, where he successfully increased enrollment and spearheaded major fundraising efforts.

Fr. John Swope, SJ, has assumed his new role as socius of the USA East Province. Fr. Swope has served as the USA East Province’s Assistant for Apostolic Planning since September 2021. Under Fr. Swope’s leadership, an apostolic plan was sent to Fr. Sosa earlier this year and approved. Fr. Swope has previously served as socius of the Maryland Province from 2002 to 2006.

Fr. John Wronski, SJ, has been named pastor of St. Ignatius Parish in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Most recently, Fr. Wronski worked as the province’s Delegate for Formation, a position that will now be known as the Provincial Assistant for Formation. Fr. Wronski completed his term on July 1, 2024 and began his new role as pastor on August 1, 2024.

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In the FULLNESS of time

A JESUIT’S JOURNEY OF FORMATION

By Mike Gabriele

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w ‘‘

hen I first discerned religious life and thought about the Jesuits, I did find the length of the formation process to be a little daunting,” admits Jesuit scholastic Matthew Briand, SJ. “Now, as I have been in formation for seven years, I am grateful for the length of formation because with each stage, the vows and relationship with God have taken deeper and deeper roots in my identity. I know I will be a better priest and Jesuit because of our formation.”

Matt refers mostly to the estimated ten-year formation from entering the novitiate to priestly ordination.

But ordination to the priesthood is not the final step of formation for Jesuits. Full incorporation into the Society of Jesus isn’t complete until the profession of final vows any number of years later.

Jesuit formation is indeed a lengthy process that dates back to the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus,

written by St. Ignatius Loyola and approved in 1550.

It is a comprehensive, rigorous, and deeply spiritual journey, designed to prepare Jesuits for a life of service, education, and devotion to the Church. The process is both demanding and rewarding, requiring a profound commitment to the Jesuit mission and a deepening of one’s relationship with God. Fr. John Wronski, SJ, has just completed a seven-year tenure

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as formation director for the USA East Province, allowing him to lead a group of Jesuits through most of their formation journey to the priesthood.

“Being a formation director for the past seven years has given me the opportunity to ‘pay it forward’ to a new generation of Jesuits. Walking with them through the various stages has been a tremendous privilege in my own Jesuit life. They inspire me every day to be the best Jesuit I can be, and they give me lots of hope for the future of the province and the Church.”

Jesuit formation has five key stages —Novitiate, First Studies, Regency, Theology, and Tertianship—leading to final vows, each designed to strengthen the spiritual, intellectual, and practical aspects that shape a Jesuit’s way of proceeding.

have come together to help me flourish into the kind of person that I hoped to become—someone more gentle and more joyful, more aware of my limitations and grateful for my gifts, and more free— able to follow Jesus’ voice in my life.”

† Regency The next stage in Jesuit formation is Regency, a period of two to three years during which Jesuits engage full-time in apostolic work. This provides an opportunity for Jesuits to apply their academic knowledge in practical settings, such as teaching in Jesuit schools, working in parishes, or serving in social justice ministries. Matt Briand, SJ, is in his second

† The Novitiate The formation of a Jesuit begins with two years at the novitiate, a period of intense spiritual growth and discernment. This stage cultivates the novice’s understanding of whether he is truly called to the Jesuit life. It begins with the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, a month-long retreat to deepen the novice's relationship with God and help him discern his vocation. Novices live in community together and engage in various works of service.

† First Studies Following the novitiate, Jesuits enter First Studies, which lasts for three years. This period focuses on the study of philosophy, theology, and the humanities, integrated with community life and ministry, especially service to the poor and marginalized. Alec Hufford, SJ, is in his second year of First Studies. “My experiences in formation, whether unexpected apostolic assignments, new community experiences, or growth in self-knowledge,

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Matthew Briand, SJ, a scholastic in Regency, teaches theology at Loyola Blakefield. He says that spreading the Kingdom of God fills him with joy and hope.

year of Regency and teaches theology at Loyola Blakefield in Baltimore. “The best part of Regency has been building relationships with the students. In my first year, I was just trying to keep my head above water. But what always brought joy, peace, and excitement was the knowledge that at the end of the day, I’m here to share God’s love with these kids by loving them as He does. That insight has remained with me as I’ve settled into my role. I try to bring that to the classroom every day, and I will bring that

grace to my ministry as a priest.”

Michael Petro, SJ, is a first-year Regent doing work for Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) in Beirut. “Things in Beirut are complicated right now,” he says. “Despite that, the greatest grace is that I know I am meeting God every day—God who is much more creative, loving, joyful, and consistent than I am! Particularly the people of our parish, mostly refugees and migrant workers who live in very difficult circumstances, have given me new images of the Kingdom of God, which are incredibly freeing and sustaining.”

† Theology After Regency, Jesuits begin three years of advanced theological studies to prepare them for ordination. Jesuit schools of theology include the Clough School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College, the Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University in Berkeley, Calif., Regis College in Toronto, and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Jonathan Pennacchia, SJ, is entering his third year of Theology and will be ordained a priest next June. “As I discerned entering the Jesuits my senior year at Loyola University Maryland, the 10+ years of formation for priesthood felt dauntingly long! A campus minister and good mentor was my sounding board who simply asked: ‘What’s the rush?’ Above all, trust in the slow work of God—preparing to be a faithful and joyful Jesuit priest should not be rushed. So, I have come to enjoy the ‘slow learning’ that marks our Jesuit way of proceeding, as I grow in greater trust in the work that God is doing in my formation.”

† Priestly Ordination or Jesuit Brother Most Jesuits are called to the priesthood, but some do choose to become Jesuit brothers. Brothers follow a

when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar.’ As I reflected on my formation experience, I never felt like it was ‘probation,’ the technical term used in Jesuit documents. I felt and continue to feel loved, cared for, encouraged, challenged, and appreciated by fellow Jesuits, my superiors, and my colleagues. These are the same ways I feel Jesus has accompanied me.”

Fr. Patrick Nolan, SJ, professes Final Vows before Provincial Fr. Joseph O’Keefe, SJ, who holds the Blessed Sacrament.

† Tertianship The final stage of Jesuit formation is Tertianship, where Jesuits revisit the Spiritual Exercises and engage in a period of reflection on their formation journey. They often travel abroad, undertaking various apostolic assignments, which provide further opportunities for growth and discernment.

“The primary grace of Tertianship has been making the Spiritual Exercises again,” says Fr. Jason Downer, SJ, Superior of the Canisius Jesuit Community in Buffalo and the Le Moyne Jesuit Community in Syracuse, and who is currently in Tertianship. “One of the surprises of my vocation has been training as a spiritual director and offering the 19th annotation retreat to people. Being able to disconnect for a

month and just enter the quiet stillness of God’s love for me was a true blessing.”

† Final Vows A Jesuit’s formation officially concludes with the profession of final vows.

A Jesuit is called to final vows by the Superior General in Rome when ready for full incorporation into the Society of Jesus. Fr. Patrick Nolan, SJ, professed his Final Vows at the Province Day Mass at Fordham University on June 7, 2024.

“On my retreat this year, I prayed with Psalm 139, which begins, ‘Lord, you have probed me, you know me: you know

Photo courtesy of Jesuits Global

slightly different but equally rigorous formation path of studies and apostolic work and are called to support the Church and the Society of Jesus in many ways. Fr. Wronski explains, “Jesuit brothers—living a life of radical availability—are those who respond to a vocation of accompaniment—serving as doctors, teachers, social workers, retreat directors, but most of all, companions, walking alongside God’s people.”

The Jesuit formation period may be a rather long, rigorous process, but it is a spiritual journey that fills each of these men of faith with inspiration and joy. “The Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives is never clearer than when we are filled with joy,” adds Jonathan Pennacchia. “Indeed, this way of Jesuit formation is marked not only by slow learning but by joy. I hope and pray that as a Jesuit priest, I will continue to be able to point out God’s way in the lives of those I encounter and to do so joyfully!”

Alec Hufford, still early on in his formation journey, may sum it up best as he reflects on the Spiritual Exercises, “One of my favorite phrases from the Spiritual Exercises is ‘tanto bien recibido’: so much good received. Yes, I have received so much good from the Lord through my experience in the Society of Jesus, and I know that God has so much more to give me.” n

Michael Petro, SJ, serves with JRS in Beirut, working with migrants from the Philippines, Sri Lanka, South Sudan, and many other parts of Africa and South Asia.

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Camp at Nativity Schools:

A Jesuit Education OUTSIDE of the Classroom

Camaraderie with their fellow students is something that students cultivate at camp and only build upon throughout the school year.

As the person who oversees the admissions and community

By PJ Williams

engagement of Saint Ignatius School (SIS) in the Bronx, Fr. Vinny Marchionni, SJ, is often telling the parents of prospective students what makes an education at SIS unique.

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Like other Nativity Schools, SIS of half days at SIS to help new students provides underserved students with socialize and prevent them from a Catholic middle school education any academic regression due to the over an extended day and extended “summer slide.” The next three weeks year. The tuition at Nativity Schools is are spent away at Camp Monserrate, low-cost if not free for students who in Lake Placid, N.Y., the very camp qualify. The student-to-teacher ratio students from the Nativity Mission allows for a more hands-on approach Center went to. to meet the needs of individual students, and the Graduate Support Program accompanies alumni even years after graduation. But there is something else that SIS has that helps it stand out from other schools in the Bronx: a summer camp.

“It’s a selling point. It’s something that makes us unique among other schools and agencies in the area,” said Fr. Marchionni. “An education at Saint Ignatius is not just about academic formation, it’s about human formation.”

The summer camp program at SIS may make it stand out in the Bronx, but it is also something that most Nativity Schools throughout the country have in some form. The Nativity Mission Center, which served poor boys on the Lower East Side of Manhattan Camp gives Nativity students an opportunity to get their and included a camp component, is hands dirty and gain a better appreciation of nature. the archetype for the modern Nativity School. While the Nativity Mission “On a day-to-day basis, we do three School has since closed, the model things—we do academics, we do that it developed continues to this day. traditional camp activities, and we Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders do spirituality,” said Greg Arte, the at SIS spend five weeks taking part executive director of SIS’s Summer in the school’s Summer Leadership Camp. Students start their day at Program. The first two weeks consist

camp with reading, writing, math classes, and swimming lessons.

Their afternoons include camp activities such as canoeing and hiking.

In the evening, their time is dedicated to discussions focused on spirituality which are tied to different themes.

“It’s structured so they can build the school community around those events during camp and reflect on them for the rest of the year,” said Arte.

For many incoming students, this is not only their first time at a summer camp but also their first time outside of the city. It is an experience that can be equally exciting and daunting, but the opportunities for students to push themselves at camp are plentiful.

“We had a boy last year who started the year not even putting his foot in the water,” said Arte. “By the end of camp, the whole camp was cheering for him because he was able to dunk his head underwater.

And the following summer he committed to learning the strokes.”

In addition to learning more about themselves, camp is an opportunity for incoming students at Nativity Schools to learn more about the Society of Jesus and Jesuit education. “The summer program introduces the new students to what it means to be ‘men for others.’ They learn about our school pillars of being open to growth, intellectually

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Spirituality is a key part of a Nativity School education, especially during their time at camp. Students from Saint Ignatius School in the Bronx take part in a daily examen in the camp chapel (pictured) and have Mass on Sundays.

The summer program introduces the new students to what it means to be ‘men for others.’ They learn about our school pillars of being open to growth, intellectually competent, religious, loving, and committed to do­ing justice.ʺ — Lisa Tica, Nativity Preparatory School

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competent, religious, loving, and committed to do­ing justice,” said Lisa Tica, camp director of Nativity Preparatory School in Jamacia Plain, Mass., another Nativity School with a summer program. Unlike the camp at SIS, Nativity Preparatory School runs a day camp over three weeks.

However, as to be expected, not all students at Nativity Prep are enthused about participating in camp over the summer.

At least, that is the sentiment when they start camp. “On day one, the students would rather be at home playing video games all day or sleeping in,” says Tica.

But this is not a sentiment that they carry though the entire summer. “By the end of camp, they have made new friends, bonded over fun activities, and grown through team-building activities.”

This camaraderie only gets stronger during each subsequent year of camp as does the desire to be “men for others.”

“The returning students are encouraged to be leaders and exemplify the school pillars,” said Tica.

The opportunity for older students to act as mentors is taken one step further at St. Ignatius Loyola Academy in Baltimore, Md., where alumni are invited to return to help at the camp. “A number of years ago we started what we call the SLI program, which is short for the Student

Leadership Institute,” said Jennifer Summers, the Interim President and Chief Advancement Officer at St. Ignatius Loyola Academy. Through the SLI program, about eight to ten alumni are asked to come back to not only work as camp counselors but to also spend their time eating, living, and hanging out with students.

Sleepaway camp for Loyola Academy students starts at the beginning of June for rising 7th and 8th graders. Together they spend two weeks at Camp Crimson

Knight, the school’s summer camp located near Buckeystown, Md. Students at Camp Crimson Knight are broken up into groups and assigned a different SLI staff member. The groups compete to gain points, and at the end of their time at camp, they face off in a Summer Olympic competition. During this time, rising 6th grade students attend a day camp at Loyola Academy.

“It’s amazing how much growth happens with these young men, just trying something new and getting out of their comfort zone, with no cell phone, none of that,” said Summers. When camp has concluded, the four-week July term starts at Loyola Academy. According to Summers, the change in students over the two weeks at camp is readily apparent. “The growth and maturity you see are really quite outstanding. They come back in July and it’s like they’re ready for their leadership role at school now as 7th and 8th graders and they kind of step up to that.”

Nativity School camps complement what the Jesuit Schools Network refers to as Graduate at Graduation traits, or “Grad at Grad” for short. Grad at Grad traits consist of being open to growth, intellectually competent, religious, loving, and committed to justice. “I

think camp certainly puts all the Grad at Grad traits together,” said Fr. Marchionni. “You have to be open to growth to do well at camp.” Grad at Grad traits and the lessons learned during camp are what help students at graduation and beyond. “We want you to get to the best high school that you want because that sets you up for further success.” n

It’s amazing how much growth happens with these young men, just trying something new and getting out of their comfort zone, with no cell phone, none of that.”

— Jennifer Summers, St. Ignatius Loyola Academy

Camp provides Nativity School students with an opportunity to get out of their comfort zone and try new things.

For many, it will be their first time hiking or canoeing.

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MOrdained to the Priesthood eet Our 2024 Jesuits

New Jesuit Fathers Chia-Yang “C-Y” Kao, SJ, Brendan Gottschall, SJ,

On June 8, 2024, four Jesuits from the USA East Province were ordained to the priesthood at the Fordham University Church—Fr. Brendan Coffey, SJ, Fr. Thomas

Thomas Elitz, SJ, and

Elitz, SJ, Fr. Brendan Gottschall, SJ, and Fr. Chia-Yang (C-Y) Kao, SJ. These men

Brendan Coffey, SJ.

have journeyed through a formation process that began as a discernment and a call of the Holy Spirit. Please pray for them as they embark on their vocations as Jesuit priests, serving the Catholic Church and the people of God.

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Fr. Brendan G. Coffey, SJ, grew up in Cherry Hill, N.J., raised by his parents, Gerry and Janice, alongside his brother, Justin, and sister, Katelyn. He credits his greatuncle, Msgr. Tom Coffey, a Catholic priest, pastor, and high school educator, as an early vocational inspiration.

Brendan first met the Society of Jesus at St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia and continued his Jesuit education at Fordham University in the Bronx, N.Y., where he studied English and philosophy. After graduation, he participated in the Alumni Service Corps at St. Joseph’s Prep followed by graduate studies in Anglo-Irish literature at Trinity College Dublin, where he earned a Master of Philosophy. After returning stateside, Brendan was a high school English teacher for several years at St. Augustine High in San Diego and at Regis High School in New York City. Brendan entered St. Andrew Hall novitiate in Syracuse, N.Y., in 2015.

As a novice, he worked as a hospital chaplain and technician, accompanied adults at a spiritual renewal center, and taught English at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Baltimore. After professing vows, he pursued a master’s in Catholic theology at Fordham University, volunteering at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx on his days off. During his regency, Brendan taught theology and English at Fairfield College Preparatory School in Fairfield, Conn.; he also served as an assistant cross-country coach. Following regency, Brendan continued his theology studies at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in Berkeley, Calif., earning a Licentiate in Sacred Theology/Master of Theology. While in the East Bay, Brendan worked with youth groups at St. Joan of Arc Parish in San Ramon, Calif., where he also served as a deacon. Brendan is spending the summer at St. Peter Catholic Church in Charlotte, N.C., before returning to Fairfield Prep as a full-time teacher.

Fr. Thomas Elitz, SJ, was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Cinnaminson, N.J., where he was raised by his two wonderful parents, along with his younger brother. He attended Catholic school his whole life and met the Jesuits during his undergraduate studies at Saint Joseph’s University, where he studied accounting. After graduation, he worked as a financial analyst and internal auditor for two years at Johnson & Johnson. While he enjoyed his work, he felt a persistent call from God to religious life in the Society of Jesus. He entered the Jesuits in August of 2014. During his novitiate, Tom was assigned to teach math and English at Yap Catholic High School in the Federated States of Micronesia.

After professing vows in 2016, he studied philosophy at Fordham University in the Bronx, N.Y. While studying at Fordham, Tom also taught English classes part-time to immigrants living in the Bronx.

For his regency, he was assigned to Scranton Preparatory School, where he taught math and theology and worked in campus ministry. His experiences in the classroom implanted in Tom a passion for teaching and for ministering in a school environment. After working at Scranton Prep, he was sent to the Faber Jesuit Community in Boston to complete a Master of Divinity and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology at the Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry. Tom served as a deacon at St. Columbkille’s Parish in Brighton, Mass., teaching RCIA classes and assisting at weekend liturgies.

Tom is an avid runner, having run five marathons during the course of his formation. He is spending a year working at St. Raphael the Archangel Parish in Raleigh, N.C. (Continued on page 14)

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Fr. Brendan W. Gottschall, SJ, entered the Society of Jesus in 2014 at the Novitiate of Saint Andrew Hall in Syracuse, N.Y. Originally from South Jersey, Brendan grew up in a committed Catholic family and felt a call to be a priest from a young age. He attended Catholic schools for most of his life, including St. Augustine Prep and Georgetown University. It was in Catholic schools that Brendan encountered vowed religious; first religious sisters, then Augustinians and Jesuits, all of whom have inspired his vocation. After graduating college with a bachelor’s degree in economics, with minors in government and Chinese, he worked for two years in economic consulting before entering the Jesuits. After two years of novitiate, including a five-month experiment at Cheverus High School in Portland, Maine, he took vows in 2016 and was missioned to study philosophy at Fordham University in the Bronx, N.Y. Having studied Mandarin Chinese in undergrad, Brendan began his regency in Beijing, China, where he worked for almost a year. He then taught middle and high school classics, theology, and economics at Loyola Blakefield in Baltimore for two years. For the last three years, Brendan studied theology at the Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry, earning a Master of Divinity and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology. He had a graced experience of the church in the community of women and men who study, teach, and work there. Brendan is serving as assistant director and promoter of vocations for the USA East Province.

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Fr. Chia-Yang “C-Y” Kao, SJ, was born and raised in a Catholic family in Taipei, Taiwan. His journey toward the priesthood began during middle school when he attended a diocesan vocation event, igniting a deep-seated desire to serve in the priesthood. This calling has remained a guiding force throughout his life, leading him to actively engage in various church ministries. Having pursued diplomacy studies at National Chengchi University, renowned for its emphasis on humanities and social sciences in Taiwan, his exposure to the Jesuits deepened through his involvement with the Christian Life Community (CLC).

It was during this time that he developed a keen interest in Ignatian spirituality. Following two years of military service, he ventured to the United States to pursue a graduate degree at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. Throughout this period, he maintained connections with Jesuits in the Washington, D.C., area. Prior to entering the Jesuit novitiate in Syracuse, N.Y., he dedicated eight years of his professional life to designing educational development projects worldwide, supported by the U.S. Department of State and USAID. During his Jesuit formation, he participated in hospital chaplaincy in Syracuse and Boston, provided spiritual care for the unhoused population in Chicago, and supported minoritized and first-generation university students in San Francisco. In his regency, he supported academic research in missionary history in China at the Ricci Institute and participated in fostering equity and inclusivity at the University of San Francisco, grounded in its Catholic, Jesuit mission. He carried this valuable experience into his theology studies at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University, where he explored the evolving dynamics of Jesuit higher education within an increasingly diversified U.S. context. As a deacon, he served at St. Ignatius Parish in San Francisco and Chinese Catholic Missions in Oakland, Calif. He will now pursue a doctorate in education at Columbia University while offering sacramental ministry at St. Francis Xavier Parish in New York City.

The Approved

Apostolic Plan of the USA East Province Apostolic Priorities of the Plan Foster Transformative Jesuit Communities

Provincial Fr. Joseph O’Keefe, SJ, announced in a letter on May 16, 2024, the approval by Father General Sosa in Rome of the Apostolic Plan for Jesuits USA East.

For nearly two years, Jesuits and lay colleagues engaged in communal discernment and spiritual conversation to find new, creative, and more efficient ways to deploy our human, physical, and financial resources for the greater praise and service of God and to more fully live out the four Universal Apostolic Preferences of the Global Society of Jesus. This process has led us to a finalized Apostolic Plan as a means of opening new paths toward the renewal of our community life, the discernment of our apostolic and institutional commitments, the promotion of Ignatian spirituality, and the advancement of our Mission of Ecological and Social Justice. Guided by this Plan, we aspire to answer these calls with greater freedom and detachment, in deeper solidarity with Christ and those we serve.

We have launched a new website, www.

ApostolicPlan.com, that includes a brief video, a full Executive Summary of the plan (including for our works in Micronesia), details on its two-year journey to fruition, and a page for questions and comments.

This summer, we are creating a Commission on Ministries, made up of Jesuits and lay colleagues, to assist the provincial in dialogue with our partners in ministry regarding implementation of the plan.

We will keep you updated through our magazine, website, and newsletters. AMDG!

Jesuits commit to fostering within our communities a transformative shift toward a more authentic living of the Jesuit vocation.

We envision cultivating a prayerful, supportive, welcoming, and prophetic environment that enriches our shared faith and strengthens our commitment to justice. To achieve this, we envision the restructuring of the Jesuit life mission to walk with Christ poor and humble.

Reimagine Apostolic and Institutional Commitments With the number of apostolically active Jesuits declining and the simple reality of scarcity of time and resources, reducing the number of institutions to which Jesuits are missioned and reimagining our apostolic engagement are imperative. Focusing on the quality of Jesuit presence more than the quantity of those missioned is more reflective of the magis. We thus recognize the need for greater intentionality in the missioning of Jesuits to province-sponsored works.

Strengthen Ignatian Spiritual Formation or Mission By fostering Ignatian spiritual formation for mission, the USA East Province will equip and empower more people to develop a unique personal relationship with God that is grounded in the realization that God is actively at work in all creation.

Engage with Greater Freedom in the Mission of Ecological and Social Justice Jesuits USA East will commit intellectual talents, pastoral efforts, and organizational strengths to promote environmental justice and work for racial justice and reconciliation. We also seek to empower secondand third-generation Latino Catholics for Church leadership.

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25 Doctors

Matthew

Dr. Xuan Ngoc Hoang, Fr. Julio Giulietti, SJ, Dr. Nguyen Thi Ha, and Dr. Le Hoang Sang celebrate together at the completion of classes.

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Vietnam

By Fr. Julio Giulietti, SJ

As a boy, I was fascinated by the blackand-white movie The Keys of the Kingdom, starring Gregory Peck as the young Scottish priest, Fr. Francis Chisholm.

A compelling character, Fr. Chisholm is full of quiet dignity, intelligence, charm and an inquisitive streak. A bit out of step as a parish priest in the rural Scottish countryside, his friendly and understanding bishop suggests he take up a new position as a missionary in early 20th century China. Fr. Chisholm eagerly accepts the offer only to find himself in a world alien to all he knows and loves. Yet, over the years, he adapts to a new life with the help of Chinese friends, his sometimes-stubborn streak, and his trust in God. Some years into his mission, a childhood and college friend, Willie Tulloch, now a doctor, pays him a surprise visit. Willie, a confirmed atheist, has an ongoing friendly banter with Fr. Frank about the struggle between good and evil. During political tensions so common to that era in China, Fr. Chisholm’s mission is caught in crossfire between two warlords which leaves his church and most other buildings destroyed. While rushing to the aid of a wounded man, Willie is shot and dies in the arms of his friend, Fr. Frank.

Years later, as Fr. Chisholm relates this story, he refers to his dear friend Willie as a “Matthew 25 doctor” in reference to the moving parable in Matthew’s Gospel (25:31-46). Often referred to as the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, Jesus explains that helping any person—a brother or a sister—is the same as helping Jesus himself. The parable implies that many who care meaningfully

for others care for Jesus regardless of their professed faith or awareness of this fact.

This story is about my Matthew 25 doctors, three Vietnamese doctors in particular, who I know and respect with deep admiration and gratitude.

My privileged encounter with these three doctors stemmed from my work in Southeast Asia that developed as a structured and evolving response by both Loyola University Chicago and Georgetown University to the directives of then Fr. General Adolfo Nicolas’ 2010 Mexico City speech on the “Challenges to Jesuit Higher Education Today” and the directives of Jesuit General Congregation 35 to realize more of the potential Jesuits have as an international body to “rediscover universality” by networking with our sister schools abroad, especially, as always, where there is greatest need.

As such, my prime Jesuit apostolate is higher education, which has been divided nearly equally between America and Southeast Asia.

In 2017, I was graced with an appointment to Georgetown University's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs. My Berkley Center portfolio and apostolate is to assist in the development of new Jesuit or diocesanbased colleges across Southeast Asia. To this end, I have lived in and worked out of Vietnam for the last 15 years (currently as the only

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Drs. Hoang and Sang consult with a priest and sister from north of Vietnam.

Due to the present state of Vietnamese health care, there is limited opportunity for people to establish a relationship with a doctor or to see the same doctor more than once.

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foreign Jesuit in Vietnam), and I have come to know the people and country fairly well.

Many are surprised to learn that Vietnam is a country of just over 100 million people who are mainly Buddhist with only seven percent identifying themselves as Christian, the majority of these Catholic. Due to the ideology of the Vietnamese Communist government, it is not possible to open faith-based colleges, Christian or Buddhist. With the understanding and agreement of my Georgetown colleagues, I focus my work in Vietnam in two areas. First, the establishment of an educational partnership between Georgetown University School of Medicine and Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine in Ho Chi Minh City and its affiliated public hospital. Following the Japanese and European systems of medical training, Vietnamese medical education begins after high school and continues for six years. As part of this

partnership, I have been teaching courses in soft skills and counseling at the medical school for seven years and thus developed valuable professional and personal relationships with many local doctors.

Another area of my ministry is assisting at the Center for Ignatian Spirituality (CIS) of the Vietnam Province of the Society of Jesus. I collaborate with CIS in the design and delivery of programs that enhance the human and spiritual development of Vietnamese religious women and men, diocesan priests and laypersons.

One of these programs is titled Ongoing Formation for Formators, which runs for four full months. Twenty participants—half of them male and the other half female—from all over Vietnam attend this program to update the knowledge and skills of people involved in the formation of candidates and young members of their religious congregations or dioceses. Students have the opportunity to review and renew their lives and vocations spiritually, mentally, and physically so they can do the same for those they serve.

Due to the present state of Vietnamese health care, there is limited opportunity for people to establish a relationship with a doctor or to see the same doctor more than once. Usually, people only seek medical care when they are already quite ill, resulting in prolonged stays in severely crowded public hospitals. Participants in the On-going Formation for Formators program are no different. Hence, we offer classes on human anatomy, preventative medicine, balanced nutrition, and mental health. Given my relationships at the medical school and with local physicians, it fell to me to find doctors willing to prepare and teach these classes. This was how I came to know my Matthew 25 doctors, Dr. Nguyen Thi Ha, Dr. Xuan Ngoc Hoang and Dr. Le Hoang Sang.

All three were my students at the medical school where they were at the top of their class. They went

on to complete residencies in their chosen fields of medicine. None are Christian, so when I asked them about teaching our students who are mainly religious women and men and diocesan priests, they wondered if not being Christian or Catholic would trouble their audience. I responded that human bodies are the same, be they Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, or no religion. After some hesitation, they bravely accepted the challenge.

I know they did so out of friendship and an inborn sense of generosity.

Far from being skeptical of the doctors due to their differing faiths, the three were greeted with great hunger for medical and biological knowledge in a country that provides little. And the interactions among the doctors and our students were noticeably warm and accepting. Our participants raved about the content and personable style of their three teachers. After three class days, Sr.

strated how fruits, vegetables, and sunlight, so abundant in Vietnam, can injure or heal skin, the largest organ in our body, Fr. Van Thai from the coastal Diocese of Phan Thiet mentioned, “Now I understand what it means that I am what I eat and how the sun interacts with my body!”

Dr. Ha, the only woman of the three, is an obstetrician and gynecologist who arguably had the most challenging task. Yet, in a professional and relaxed manner, she described the organs of human reproduction, including their functions, how they are linked to our emotional lives, and how to maintain them in good health.

Such honest information shared among a mixed group of adult men and women is rare in Vietnam. On the last afternoon of her three days with the group, Dr. Ha met privately with the ten women in the group.

This was significant since the sisters had time to discuss topics important

Dr. Ha with Vietnamese sisters after a private session with them. The sisters loved her knowledge and friendliness.

Kim from Danang in the central highlands said of Dr. Sang, an internist, “I marvel at how our organs interact and depend on each other. I see what complexity God has created in each of us… And I love his smile.” Of Dr. Hoang, a dermatologist who demon-

to them as women with a respected medical professional, something they had never before been able to do.

Dominican Sr. Truc from near Hanoi remarked, “Dr. Ha is so knowledgeable and so serene. I feel blessed to know her. I will invite her to talk with

Fr. Giulietti shares a laugh with Dinh My, the daughter of another friend of his, Dr. Xuan.

our novices and young sisters.”

These three doctors have agreed to return this autumn for the next cohort of the On-going Formation program. When I invited Dr. Sang to join us again, he commented, “It is my honor to be with such dedicated and good servants. I admire such people. Vietnam will benefit so much from their work and lives.”

I have no doubts that my three friends will be excellent doctors over the next decades as Vietnam navigates its way through a complex world. In the movie, the missionary Fr. Chisholm saw his non-believing friend, Dr. Willie Tulloch, as a Matthew 25 doctor. Like Fr. Chisholm, I too see my three friends as my Matthew 25 doctors. They give of their time, knowledge, and love freely for the purpose of helping our students to better understand themselves. In turn, our participants will share what they have learned with the young religious they serve. While being compared to sheep is not usually a compliment, Drs. Ha, Hoang, and Sang, are certainly “blessed of my Father” and will be invited to enter the Kingdom for the good work they do with no thought of reward, heavenly or other. n

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a

OFFICE OF IGNATIAN SPIRITUALIT Y

conversation

among Spiritual Directors of color

By Nancy Small

The Office of Ignatian Spirituality (OIS) is committed to supporting the priorities of the Jesuit USA East Apostolic Plan 2024-2034 through multiple and creative means. OIS’s Ignatian Spiritual Direction Initiative (ISDI), which offers continuing Ignatian formation for spiritual directors, hopes to encourage growth in the number of trained spiritual directors while enhancing diversity in its programs. In May 2024, the ISDI offered A Conversation Among Spiritual Directors of Color, a unique program that brought together over 40 Spiritual Directors of Color from a variety of faith backgrounds and spiritual paths.

Planned by a Leadership Team of four Ignatian Spiritual Directors of Color, this conversation created space for participants to engage in honest conversation about their experience as Spiritual Directors of Color and fostered cultural bonds of community. “It was a joy to recognize how the divine is embodied in a certain flavor in us,” shared one participant, “to have a mirroring in the context of cultural community.”

Leadership Team member Fr. Gregory Chisholm, SJ, Superior of the Jesuit Community at Loyola University

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Maryland, concurred, adding, “Last year, I participated in a JARS (Jesuit Antiracism Sodality) retreat where most participants were Black. Going back and forth in a manner filled with humor and anecdotes was one of the most uplifting and educational experiences I’ve had.”

As participants shared their stories, the theme of pioneering quickly emerged and became prominent.

Some spoke of innovative ways in which they are introducing spiritual direction to Black congregations.

Boreta Singleton

Rev. Greg Chisholm, SJ

Ann Harris-Jacobs

“Our congregation is suspicious of spiritual direction, so we are teaching what spiritual direction is,” shared one participant. “My pastor is now a spiritual director and we are sending others to be trained as well.”

Dr. Cynthia Bailey Manns, a pioneer with a D.Min. in Spiritual Direction and one of four U.S. laypeople appointed

by Pope Francis as the first lay voting delegates at the Synod of Bishops on Synodality, spoke of opportunities that opened up for her because of her spiritual direction background. “My areas of focus,” she explained, “require the foundational spiritual companionship skills of empathy, sacred healing presence, silence, deep listening, evocative questions, discernment, compassion, curiosity, and self-awareness.” Dr. Manns authored a chapter in the book Embodied Spirits: Stories of Spiritual Directors of Color and was integral in founding the Spiritual Directors of Color Network, which has grown from 10 members in 2008 to approximately 125 members today.

During the conversation, many participants spoke of cultivating diversity in predominantly white spiritual direction settings. Most attended formation programs with no instructors or speakers of color. “Our formators don’t know how to support us, so we have to advocate for ourselves,” said one participant, noting the weight of responsibility of educating about cultural and racial differences. Some shared experiences of exclusion and racism that are part of their spiritual direction stories.

Two Leadership Team members spoke about racial challenges and opportunities experienced as they accompanied white directees.

“I accompanied a white directee on a 19th Annotation retreat in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder,” shared Sr. Boreta Singleton, a spiritual director with a strong background in Ignatian spiritual ministries and a novice with the Sisters of Mercy. “Our parish posted a Black Lives Matter sign that was defaced. My retreatant saw the defaced sign being replaced and spoke of it the next time we met. He began by saying, ‘I can’t believe the church posted that sign.

Those people are racist. You know white people get killed every day…’ I took a breath and asked him how this sign factored into his prayer that week. He said it hadn’t, and we spoke about his prayer instead. As we ended, I returned to his opening comments. ‘It’s difficult for me to hear you make that kind of statement when there is so much racial difficulty,’ I said. ‘We’re talking about Christianity and loving our neighbor.’ He didn’t respond, we continued the retreat, and that was the end of it. But I was really taken aback.”

Ann Harris-Jacobs, a spiritual director who also accompanies those making the Spiritual Exercises and is an active member of St. Francis Xavier Church in New York, spoke of accompanying a white directee who was working on becoming anti-racist. “It was difficult to listen to her feelings of shame and embarrassment. All I could do was to be present to her and to what the spirit was saying to me and welcome her desire to be different… As a spiritual director. it’s my role to listen, to support, to help bring a person to where God is leading them.”

At the end of this conversation, participants affirmed the importance of bringing the fullness of who they are to their spiritual direction ministry. “I enter spaces of encounter fully embodied in my...ethnicity, culture and skills, my gender, and my age; all of this and more comes in the door whenever I accompany someone,” said Dr. Manns.

“We need to claim who we are and whose we are,” added Sr. Singleton. “We are spiritual directors and we need to show up.”

Nancy Small serves as the Associate Director for Spiritual Direction Initiatives at the Office of Ignatian Spirituality. To learn more about the work of the Ignatian Spiritual Direction Initiative (ISDI), including its service to connect spiritual directors to people seeking direction, visit IgnatianSpiritualDirection.org.

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A Welcome Return to Boston!

O

n Tuesday, April 16, the USA

East Province of the Society of Jesus hosted the 2024 Jesuit Gala at the Boston Marriott Copley Place to celebrate the mission and ministries of the Jesuits and to present Jack and Eileen Connors with the Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam Award for their generous community-based philanthropy, especially creating programs that enhance the lives of so many young people in the Boston area.

Journeying with

toward a YOUTH a

HOPE~FILLED future The theme of the evening was “Journeying with Youth Toward a Hope-Filled Future,” a fitting tribute to everything the Connors have done to ensure a hope-filled future for inner city Boston youth.

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Nearly 600 benefactors and friends, and more than 60 Jesuits, attended. The evening set a record, with $1.7 million raised to support the Jesuits—educating Jesuits in formation, caring for senior Jesuits, encouraging vocations, and assisting with educational, pastoral, and social ministries.

Following dinner, a video was played that spoke to the Jesuit mission of accompanying youth

and focused on the tireless work of Jack and Eileen Connors.

Father Provincial Joseph O’Keefe, SJ, presented the Connors with the AMDG Award. During his remarks, he noted that, “Jack and Eileen epitomize what it means to accompany our youth. They are not just on the sidelines, helping from afar.

They are on the field, so to speak.

They are present and active.”

The evening also included video

remarks from Cardinal Seán O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston, who was in Rome with Pope Francis.

Before going to press, the Jesuits and staff of the USA East Province were saddened by the news of the passing of Jack Connors on July 23, 2024. His support of the Jesuits and his dedication to the youth of Boston will be forever remembered. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Eileen and the entire Connors family.

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S

eek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.

— Romans 15:13

Dear Friends and Benefactors: On behalf of the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus, we are filled with gratitude and joy for your generous support and faithful commitment to our mission. Your gifts are a blessing and a sign of God’s providence, enabling us to continue the work of the Society of Jesus in the service of the Church and the world. Your contributions support the formation of our young Jesuits, the ministry of our active Jesuits, and the care of our elder Jesuits, who have given their lives for “the greater glory of God.” Your kindness not only sustains our province, but also exceeded our fundraising goal of $3 million, reaching $4 million raised. This additional support is a special grace, as we face the rising costs of living and serving in a complex and changing world. We are humbled and inspired by your generosity, and we pray that you may experience the joy and peace of God's love in return.

We look forward to continuing this journey together, united by our common Ignatian spirituality and our desire to find God in all things. We thank you for being our companions in this mission, and we assure you of our prayers for you and your loved ones.

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Loual Puliafito

Fr. John Piderit, SJ

Provincial Assistant for Advancement

Assistant to the Advancement Office

Advancing OUR MISSION The Jesuit Good Samaritan Club The Jesuit Good Samaritan Club is a program that enables the USA East Province to care for senior priests and brothers in our healthcare facilities and helps educate the men in formation—the next generation of Jesuits who will be assigned to our ministries.

By signing up for a monthly or quarterly gift, you are not only helping those who have given their lives in service to the Church, but are also helping to strengthen our apostolates. If you would like to become a member of the Jesuit Good Samaritan Club, or if you would like more information, please contact Timothy Olmstead, Senior Philanthropy Officer, at (212) 774-5558 or by email at tolmstead@jesuits.org.

Estate Planning Do you have questions about estate planning? The USA East Province is here to help. We are pleased to offer Planning Your Legacy, a guide to estate planning, along with informational videos

by Winthrop Rutherfurd, Jr., a longtime friend of the Jesuits.

Visit our website at JesuitsEast.org to learn more about changing tax laws, donating from your IRA or 401(k), and more. If you have already included the USA East Province in your estate plans, or if you would like a copy of Planning Your Legacy, please contact Antoinette McCormick at (212) 774-5551 or by email at amccormick@jesuits.org.

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IN MEMORY OF JAMES F. KEENAN, SJ

Dear Friends, Please join us on September 17, 2024, for the 2024 Friends of the Jesuits Golf Outing: The Keenan, in memory of Fr. James F. Keenan, SJ, at Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, N.Y. Join us for a great day on the green, or online, and support our Jesuits and their lay partners in “going where the need is greatest.” There are still seats available to attend the dinner and program, as well as chances at the 50-50 raffle.

We hope to see you there!

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 QUAKER RIDGE GOLF CLUB 146 GRIFFEN AVENUE • SCARSDALE, N.Y.

⊲ To support our Jesuits in formation ⊲ To support the care of senior and infirm Jesuits

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More

on the web

This golf outing will be the first held in honor and remembrance of Fr. James F. Keenan, SJ, who touched the lives of thousands of students, alumni, parents, and friends during his 65 years as a Jesuit. His many years as a teacher and school president meant that he was often called on to marry former students and baptize their children and even grandchildren.

Fr. Keenan was a staple of past province Golf Outings and continued to faithfully serve his province and the people of God until the day he passed on August 13, 2023, at the age of 86.

For more information, visit www.JesuitsEast.org/Golf2024 or contact Tim Olmstead at ueaspecialevents@jesuits.org, or 212.774.5558.

Registration closes on September 6, 2024.

stay connected!

Welcome to the New JesuitsEast.org!

We are thrilled to introduce our newly redesigned website, which can still be found at JesuitsEast.org! Our goal was to create a more user-friendly and visually appealing experience for all our visitors.

Scan to visit: ▼

Navigating JesuitsEast.org has never been simpler, thanks to a clean, intuitive layout. Whether you are looking for news from the province, upcoming events, ways to stay in touch, or opportunities to support the province, you can find them all in one place.

Our improved search functionality ensures that you can quickly access archived stories and publications.

We have given JesuitsEast.org a fresh, modern look that adheres to website best practices. Each page is thoughtfully designed to provide a seamless and enjoyable browsing experience.

We invite you to explore the new JesuitsEast.org and discover all the enhancements we have made. Thank you for being a supporter of the USA East Province, we look forward to continuing to serve you better with our new and improved website.

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3 with . . .

THREE QUESTIONS

Fr. John Piderit, SJ Assistant to the Advancement Office

You have served many Jesuit institutions of higher education over your career as a Jesuit, including as vice president at Marquette University and president at Loyola University Chicago. How have those experiences developed your appreciation for the importance of fundraising?

Jesuit institutions provide outstanding services to many students, parishioners, and lay Catholics. However, to gain a national profile, one needs abundant financial resources. Such a profile is what enables some special Jesuit institutions—universities, high

schools, and special institutes—and the Jesuit order itself to give greater glory to God. By engaging more people, plentiful financial support promotes “the greater glory of God” as Jesuits stress their commitment to helping people be good Catholics and strong supporters of the Church.

Jesuit fundraising directly enhances God’s greater glory.

The two biggest financial challenges for any Jesuit province are education for men in formation and heath care for senior Jesuits.

As a Jesuit yourself, how does

this provide personal motivation for your new role in Advancement?

The needs of our elderly Jesuits are obvious, and generous friends and donors already provide welcome funds for elderly Jesuits. For the future of American Jesuits, two types of support are needed: first, for young Jesuits preparing to be priests and second, for prospective Jesuits. In our very secular society, we need substantial funds to attract capable future Jesuits to try out the Jesuit way when they are still young university students or in their early years of work. Programs that highlight the needs of the Catholic Church can attract young men who want to respond to those needs.

Launching such programs requires imagination and significant donations to help us grow.

St. Ignatius spent much time “fundraising” on his journey to found the Society of Jesus and begin the mission of his new order. What words would you offer someone considering a gift to the USA East Province?

St. Ignatius knew that lay “partners in mission” were essential to strengthening Catholic practice. Such partners, including both women and men, admired the Jesuits, desired to imitate some of their spiritual practices, and were eager to provide funds for the big ventures that Jesuits undertook to strengthen Christian practice. In the past 50 years, we Jesuits have educated many highly productive students, and we are in great need of their support for the USA East Province. To realize the goal of AMDG for decades to come, we need many Jesuit angels, i.e., religiously committed, entrepreneurial donors!

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Mass Cards

from the USA East Province

Mass cards are an expression of your faith as a Christian, as well as a token of your love for a particular person.

When you send a Mass card to a family member or friend, you are initiating a process that will culminate in the prayerful remembrance of your intentions in the Masses and prayers of the Jesuits of the USA East Province.

Below is a selection of the variety of Mass cards available through the province.

Mass Cards for the Deceased

I Am the Resurrection

Golden Chalice

Mass Cards for the Living

Cup of Salvation

Special Occasion

Blessing of Almighty God

One-Year Enrollments Those enrolled in the Jesuit Association will share in the special Masses and all other prayers offered for members.

Birthday Blessings

Birthday Greetings

No Eye Has Seen

Light of Life (Deceased)

New Baby

A Healing Prayer

Thinking of You (Living)

Perpetual Enrollments Those perpetually enrolled share forever in the prayers and good works of the Jesuits. Perpetual Enrollments are available for the living and the deceased.

This fall, the province will be introducing brand-new Mass card designs that better capture our Jesuit identity. Our supply of the above cards is limited, so order today!

If you wish to order cards, please contact us at UEAAdvancement@Jesuits.org or 212-774-5500. Card orders can also be made online at JesuitsEast.org.

Your card(s) will be shipped to you for your personalization.

Perpetual Enrollment for the Deceased

Perpetual Enrollment for the Living

Will you consider a gift to the Jesuits?

To make a gift that supports the Jesuits and their apostolates, please contact: USA East Province of the Society of Jesus 39 East 83rd Street | New York, NY 10028-0810 Loual Puliafito | lpuliafito@jesuits.org | 212-774-5564

www.JesuitsEast.org

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NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Brockton, MA Permit No. 243

39 East 83rd Street | New York, NY 10028

Ready to Be Sent The Society of Jesus— for the help of souls and God’s greater glory since 1540 AMDG

To learn more, visit

BeAJesuit.org

The USA East Jesuits in formation are excited to serve the Lord and the Church.