1. Where are you currently missioned and how’s it going?

In August, following vows, I was missioned to study philosophy at the University of Toronto (Regis College) in Canada. I am currently starting my second semester and I am having a great time. It is wonderful to be back in the classroom; though philosophy can seem a bit daunting at times, I really enjoy the studies.

2. When was the first time you thought about being a Jesuit?

I thought about being a Jesuit shortly after I decided I wanted to be a priest. I never knew any Jesuits growing-up, I didn’t attend a Jesuit high school or college, but something compelled me to look into a number of religious orders, as well as the Diocesan priesthood. I contacted the Oregon Province vocation director who sent me a number of materials to look through. I began reading through the books and pamphlets, and I paid attention to the affective stirrings that seemed to say, “This is what I want.” Though this was my initial desire, the rest of my time in the Society up to today has confirmed this desire.

3. How have your friendships changed or stayed the same since you entered the Portland novitiate?

I like to joke that I am an exception to the adage “You can judge a person by the company he keeps,” because I have great friends though I’m a jackass. In all honesty, I do have the best friends in the world. Many of my friends were shocked to hear that I wanted to be a Jesuit priest. My sister thought I was playing an elaborate prank on her. But all my friends support me in my vocation, even if, as one friend put it, they don’t understand what I am doing. They see I am happy and they in turn are happy for me. I wish I could see my friends more often, but we keep in touch through email and phone calls. Though my friendships have stayed the same for the most part, one change is that I have a deeper appreciation and love for my friends. I wouldn’t say that I ever took my friendships lightly, but when I talk with a friend or get an email or think about someone and wonder how they are, I am filled with a great sense of consolation and love. I really do have the best friends in the world.

4. Is there a particular author, artist, saint, musician, etc. that has resonated with you during the transition to religious life?

I can think of a number of people whose works have resonated with my transition to religious life, or who have been a source interest. However, at this moment only one person comes to mind: James Wright. I am a fan of James Wright’s poetry, especially his poem “A Blessing.” My transition to religious life has been marked by a slowing down and taking notice of God in the world. Wright’s poem beautifully depicts a specific encounter between him and a couple of horses in a pasture blanketed in moonlight. In the poem, the narrator is present in the moment, experiencing physically, mentally, and emotionally everything that is occurring. In the end, the final summation of his experience is similar to a “I-don’t-know-how-to-explain-it” moment that concludes with three lines depicting a sensation of wonder and joy: “Suddenly I realize/ That if I stepped out of my body I would break/ Into blossom.” I have experienced many of these “blooming” moments during my transition.

5. What’s the biggest surprise so far?

That I haven’t been dismissed. Just kidding. The biggest surprise so far is the happiness I have in my vocation. I not only believe that I have a calling to be a Jesuit, I have a deep desire to answer that call. And in answering, I find a happiness that I never knew possible, rooted in simplicity, Eucharist, prayer, work, and fraternity.

6. What would you tell a man who’s considering the Jesuits?

If you feel you have a religious vocation, place it in God’s hands and allow God to guide you. Also, be aware of your hesitations, anxious apprehensions, and prejudices towards religious life and the priesthood, and do not let these hinder your discernment. Know that they exist, call them out so they are not lurking in the shadows of the back of your mind constantly making your discernment disingenuous. Reliance on God’s guidance and being honest with yourself in your discernment is the best advice I could offer.