~ by Fr. Jack Bentz, SJ

During the last week of August, Provincial Pat Lee and I visited the Colombian province of the Society of Jesus. This visit was a chance for us to see many of the works of the Jesuits in this beautiful province with whom the Oregon Jesuits are twinned. The Twinning Agreement, now nearly 10 years old, has been a source of great support for both provinces in exchange of men, formation, and a wider universal view of the Society at work in the world. During our eight days in Colombia we saw an incredible range of Jesuit projects ranging from a huge urban university to microcredit projects in the countryside. We also saw the houses of formation including a short visit to their novitiate in Medellín.

We arrived at the novitiate of San Estanislao de Kostka near the middle of the day and were immediately impressed by the beautiful arrangement of the small compound of several buildings built in a coherent and harmonious style. Rather than one large building housing all the novices they are split into smaller houses complete with oratories and then these small communities share the larger common spaces for gathering, study, recreation and meals.

We were shown the main – but still cozy – chapel as it was being used by the nearly twenty young men all devoutly examining the ways they had encountered God in the during that morning. We tried to keep our voices down as we admired the architecture and the furnishings.

A bell rang and we all moved together into the dining room where we introduced ourselves in broken Spanish and all of the novices introduced themselves in perfect English. We then were led in prayer in English and prayed together the Lord’s Prayer again in English. We were so impressed by this hospitable gesture of welcome, though as we sat down we moved back into Spanish except for a young man seated next to me who worked on his English throughout the meal.

Steven spoke to us about the novices getting ready for the month of apostolic work they were to leave for in early September. None of them know where in Colombia he was to be sent nor to what work of the Society would he participate in. Steven was very enthusiastic about the chance to work and to be outside of the beautiful but controlled environment of the novitiate.

Almost all of the novices are in their early twenties and all of them have entered the novitiate after being part of a very strong postulancy program called Manresa House. During a period of time ranging from six months to two years, all candidates to the Society in Colombia live in the house for further discernment of the call to the Jesuits.

After lunch we were toured further through the buildings and admired the most organized of all Jesuit bulletin boards. A board complete with a red light that could be turned on to indicate any particularly urgent notices. After checking out the view from the top balcony in which you can see parts of Medellin as well as the roof of the nearby Jesuit infirmary we departed to see the rest of Colombia.

Explore the Jesuits of Colombia website.