~ by Hendri, nSJ
Read the first part of the essay here
Having spent some years in the U.S., I decided to join the Oregon Jesuits and here I am the only Indonesian among a small number of Asians. The dominant culture in this province is still Euro-Caucasian culture, which is totally different from my culture and the issue before me is how I can identify myself as a Chinese Indonesian while at the same time be a Jesuit of the Northwest United States. …

~by Hendri, nSJ
Bethel is one of the largest cities in southwestern Alaska. Originally it was a Yupik Eskimo village called Mamterillermiut, meaning “Smokehouse People.” The Moravian Church established a mission area in 1885 and changed the village name into Bethel. I stayed in the Jesuit parish of the Immaculate Conception as part of my novitiate poverty experiment. The church itself is located next to the so-called Honey Bucket Lake (you can guess how the lake gets its name). However, the lodgings in the church …

In the burgeoning world of communications more people are communicating with more people than ever before; there are a myriad of data streams to dip into. This new reality of status updates, tweets, blog entries, photostreams, skyping, texting, emails, etc. has been described in terms that Teilhard de Chardin would understand. He imagined that the next great leap in cosmic evolution is already underway with the transformation of matter into consciousness. And with all those messages bouncing all around the world 24 hours a day, it’s not difficult to imagine …

~ by Philip Sutherland, SJ
I have been very fortunate as a Jesuit to have a creative outlet by playing the clarinet. Although it could be difficult finding the time for classes, practicing and rehearsals in graduate school, those opportunities were always times when my anxieties about my academic classes could melt away. Music engaged my heart and carried me into the depths of my soul. I think that is why much of my prayer involves music, both because it relaxes me, but also because it helps me to experience the …

~ by Glen Butterworth, SJ
One of the great blessings for most of us is that we’re relatively comfortable most of the time. We’ll give thanks for that in a few weeks as our culture settles into the ‘Holiday Season.’ This general comfort is well-known by people throughout the Northwest as well as Jesuits and the men and women who might be discerning a vocation. There’s enough food, shelter, education, etc. to go around.
Of course, most of us is code for being part of the privileged classes in …