~ 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 …

Discernment

Definition: From the root word- Discern – “To perceive or recognize the difference or distinction; to make a distinction; to distinguish or discriminate between” (OED).
Discussion: For Jesuits discernment is about perceiving or recognizing the call of God. Everyone one is called by God to something, but to what? Sometimes this call is to change something e.g. to join religious life, other times it is a call to stay the course, e. g. continue in dental school.

There are different tools to help discernment such as conversation with people who know and …

This just in-
Jesuit historians working in Japan have unearthed artifacts shedding light on the missionary work of St. Francis Xavier, SJ.
A unnamed source says, “This is major!”
The major cache consists of a perfectly preserved saki coaster found in the remains of a 16th century Japanese saloon. The rice paper coaster is covered with what looks like a To Do list written in the hand of St. Francis Xavier.   While famous for his stirring letters written from the Far East to an isolated Europe, the mind of the saint is …

Cecilia is one of those saints whose life took on a whole new meaning after her death. Today she is associated with sacred music but this has little to do with her story or her talents and a lot to do with how the Church has celebrated her legacy down through the centuries.
The daughter of a Roman senator, Cecilia could have lived a life of great luxury; she may well have had great artistic gifts that would have developed if she had lived to enjoy the benefits of her social …

~ by Fr. Jack Bentz, SJ
I’m tired of being sold stuff. Everywhere I look and everywhere I go, I am being sold something by someone. Online spam, ads on buses, brands on shirts, and all those dang ‘Like’ symbols. By way of contrast, God has never tried to sell me anything. I am all thumbs up about God for this. God just creates us and the entire world and then — just lets us be. We can pay attention to this creative act of radical love or not. We are …

Chris hails from upstate New York, where he received his engineering degree from Clarkson University, in Potsdam, NY. His first job out of college had him relocate to Los Angeles, CA where he lived and worked for several years in a technology related business before answering the call and entering the California Province of the Society of Jesus in 2002.
Deacon Chris will be serving the people of St. Ignatius Church in Chestnut Hill, MA as the Church’s newest deacon, in preparation for his ordination to the priesthood in June 2012 …