THE JESUITS

SOCIETY OF JESUS

Who are the Jesuits?

They are a society formed to beree to serve wherever the need is greatest, either as priests or as brothers; doing everything for the greater glory of God.

Jesuit Vocation and Motto:

Jesuit vocation means living the Gospel  fully, generously, perhaps even heroically.  It is not an easy life.  It is a wonderful vocation.  Everything for the greater glory of God; more is not possible

Pedro Arrupe S.J.

Prayer

Take Lord and receive all that I have and posses.... dispose of it all according to your will.  Give me only your love and grace that is enough for me.

Founder of the Jesuits

St. Ignatius of Loyola is the founder of the Society of Jesus, popularly known as the Jesuits.  The name “Ignatius” means “fiery” and this man lived up to his name, charging on the battlefields of Spain as a youth, and directing the efforts of over 1000 Jesuits at the time of his death.  He was born some 500 years ago (1491) in Loyola, Spain. Up  to the age of 26, he was a man given to the “follies of this world, and what he enjoyed most was war-like sport with a great and foolish desire for fame.”

After being wounded in a battle in Pamplona, he was admitted in a hospital where he was forced to endure long and painful recovery.  It was during this time that he happended to read a book on the lives of saints.  He was moved as never before.  He experienced lasting peace and a burning desire to follow Christ as the saints had done before.  As soon as he could walk again, he left everything and set out in search of a new way of life, a way which eventually brought into existence the Society of Jesus or the Jesuits, which now number over 20,000 men, young and old, working in almost every country in the world, doing everything for the greater glory of God.

The Jesuit Mission

Ignatius of Loyola envisioned the Jesuits as a religious community sensitive to the movements of the Holy Spirit and free to respond to God’s will.  They were to be mobile not only in geographical sense, but in occupations, methods and structure.  As individuals they were expected to be doing anything, living anywhere.

Ignatius, therefore, did not prescribe specific ministries, but, instead set out norms for their selection.  First, the Society’s efforts are to be directed towards whatever ultimately reaches more individuals.  Second, to the more pressing or “ urgent” tasks.  Third, to work that might otherwise be neglected.

Education is one such apostolate.  Today  the Society directs over 4000 education institutions worldwide.  The forms  and directions are changing, but education of youth remains one of the most efficacious of the Society’s apostolates.

Historically, the Society has never hesitated to adopt every cultural  and technical means available to gain the world for Christ.  Jesuits have always tended to explore the latest studies and many have made significant countribution.  There are Jesuilt lawyers, philosophers, artists, nuclear physicists, musicians, system analysts, psychiatrists and politicians.  Jesuits have been praised and persecuted. A good number of them has been martyred and many canonised. At one point in history the whole Society was supressed. All these happenings may be unavoidable for any group of strong individuals deeply united in a common purpose and committed to action.

Here in Eastern Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan, and Uganda) Jesuits work in schools, Seminaries, Colleges and in Universities, either as teachers or chaplains; in parishes, in youth centres, spiritual centres, health service centres and take care of refugees and displaced people.

Jesuit Training

Jesuit formation and training is serious, extensive and challenging.  It has to be so if theyt are to be good companions of Jesus and free to serve well all people in the face of the challenges of today’s world.

Applicants are accepted into a program of candidacy when they are completting or have completed high school, college education, university, or even when they are already at work.

After  a period of not less than one year of candidacy and if the candidate is approved, the actual formation starts with  two years of Novitiate: a time of prayer, reflection, service and getting to know the ways of the Society of Jesus. The Novitiate experience can be summarised as a time to get to know oneself, a time to know Jesus better and a time to know the society ... then find better means  to intergrate the three.  At the end, of the Novitiate experience, one pronounces simple but perpetual vows of chastity poverty and obedience.  In Eastern Africa, our Novitiate is at Njiro-Korona, Arusha, Tanzania.

Candidates for Priesthood (Scholastics) are sent to study Philosophy, humanities, part of Theology and French, usually in Zimbabwe for four years, but the period may be reduced for those entering with a university degree.

Then follows two years of Regency: a time of pastoral experience and of getting to know how to work with other Jesuits as a team.

Some Jesuits are sent out for special studies soon after this period, but most of the Jesuits are sent straight to study Theology, usually  at Hekima College in Nairobi and sometimes in other places.  After three years they are ordained and may continue afterwards with special studies in accordance with the work the Society wants them to do.

Jesuit Brothers, soon after Novitiate, are sent out  to have the training they require for a wide variety of roles in our work.  For example they may train as teachers, lecturers, doctors, accountants, farmers, computer scientists, electricians, builders and the like.  They also receive formation in theology to equip them for direct pastoral work.

The formal training ends with a year of Tertianship: a time of prayer, study, reflection and service. After this stage one is ready for taking final vows in the Society anytime he is invited to do so.

A Jesuit is either a working student or a studying worker.  He has to be so in order to be of better service to men and women of today’s world.  Jesuits try to keep up with the changing times and so continually renew themselves and their work.

Being ‘contemplative in action,’ a Jesuit tries to find God in everything making the prayer of St. Ignatius his own: