~ by Brendan Busse, SJ
Our Jesuit life asks us to bridge different worlds, worlds of culture, nation, and socioeconomic realities. As a Jesuit in philosophy studies here in Chicago I’m privileged to work with the Ignatian Spirituality Project (ISP), a program offering retreats for homeless men and women in addiction recovery programs. This bridging dynamic of the Jesuit vocation reminds me of a particular encounter I had while driving a group of men from a shelter to a local parish for a day of recollection.

As we drove toward St. Gertrude’s …

The struggle to articulate something that is at once obvious and at the same time inchoate underlies the emotion of the various Occupy movements. And this struggle is taking shape in the arts and beginning to register with people in ways that are at once subtle and profound.

 
The media is beginning to pick up on how the art world is collecting the voices of this time, preparing for future exhibits.
How the Art World Propels Occupy Wall Street
Art Arises from Occupy Movement
And if you’re interested in following how this particular angle …

This summer, I was sent to study Spanish and live with a local family in Xela, a small urban city in the western mountains of Guatemala.  My host family and the people of Guatemala I met will always stay with me. But as a Jesuit in Guatemala, what had the most impact on me were the other students with whom I lived and studied.
Every day as I walked to class, I dodged diesel fueled cars, greeted traditionally dressed Mayan women as they walked their kids to class, and spoke with …

A reflective preview of a new work by Joseph F. Conwell, SJ by Glen Butterworth, SJ
Impelling Spirit was one of the few books I read three times as a Jesuit novice. It broke open the language and intentions of the first Jesuits and, I believe, offered insight into the mind of God, who called the Society of Jesus into being. Most of the books that came my way during the novitiate were good but Joe Conwell’s book was great. Joe also introduced me to …

~ by Fr. Mike Bayard, SJ
I remember a conversation I had with one of our retiring faculty members a few years ago. Nearing 70 years old, she decided that it was time to retire and begin a new chapter in her life. Interested, I asked her, “So, what’s next?” She immediately responded, “Not sure, I am still trying to figure it all out. I am discerning what I am supposed to do when I grow up.”
I smiled. Her answer prompted me to be faithful to …