Back in the Country

1. Would you describe a particular time when it was a great joy to be a Jesuit.

One time would definitely be last summer in Medellin, Colombia. I was a novice and all the Oregon Novices spent a month in Bogota. While there we spent a weekend with the Colombian novices in Medellin. For one day we were paired up, one American novice with a Colombian Novice and went on an apostolate into the barrios on the mountainsides. I, the oldest novice was paired with the youngest novice. I didn’t know Spanish and he didn’t know English. My dictionary got a work out that day. We did home visit to the sick, brought them communion, and prayed with them. I had a profound sense of God that day in the Holy Eucharist. Carrying the sacred host through neighborhoods that until recently were under control of drug cartels to the very poor and sick was an immense honor and source of grace. Even though a language barrier separated us, it was amazing to see the unity of the body of Christ, the people of God, together. It was a day of immense joy that words can’t really describe. Upon our return to the novitiate one of the Fathers commented: “It must have been a good day, their faces are radiant with joy!”

2. What would you say are the greatest talents, skills, or gifts you enjoy in your life?

We often think of talents or skills as artistic, but mine don’t fit into that category. For me it is: being intuitive and curious. Being intuitive has been great in my prayer life; it opens me to hearing the spirit of God. It also aids me when I’m in situations when I’m not sure what to do. A keen sense of instinct has spared me a lot of trouble and has enabled me to help others when I didn’t think I could. Curiosity has allowed me to move forward even when stunted with fear. Curiosity has lead me to take risks in life that has open doors and allowed me to grow in wisdom (I’m not talking about being reckless though). It has moved me out of my comfort zone and makes me more available to be a man for others.

3. What are the key needs of the world today and how do you experience that in ministry?

There are so many needs. However I think one key need is an emotional one. People don’t want to feel alone. Being with people empowers them. It’s not about doing things for people but being with them. Peer pressure (and it’s not just youth who experience peer pressure, adults do too) often causes people not to be true to themselves or their beliefs for fear of being alone. I saw this last year in teaching High School students. When they see they are not alone they have more confidence and move forward. Living in community can do that for us as well. It is easier to do ministry when we aren’t alone. That is why Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs. Ignatius did as well. It is also in the book of Genesis, “God saw that it was not good for man to be alone.” This is what is at the core of the principle of Solidarity: being with people.