• HISTORY:

Perhaps you know of the Jesuits, but may not be familiar with exactly who they are and what they do. Formally called the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits are one of the largest religious orders in the Catholic Church. The Society was founded in 1540 by St. Ignatius Loyola, a Basque nobleman and soldier, author of the Spiritual Exercises who found God in all things.

Worldwide 20,000 priests and brothers are serving God’s people as Jesuits in 112 nations on six continents. In the United States there are 10 provinces and nearly 3,000 Jesuits. Charis Ministries was founded in 2000 under Fr. Richard J. Baumann, SJ, Provincial of the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus. Today Charis is sponsored by the Chicago Province and its many benefactors.

More about the Society of Jesus at the U.S. Jesuit web site.









• ST IGNATIUS:

St Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), as a young man, sought happiness and fulfillment in chivalry: engaging in battle, serving high-born women, carousing with fellow knights, and keeping his hair and dress in the latest fashion. In a battle with the French in the Spanish town of Pamplona in 1521 a cannon ball shattered his legs. During his months of painful convalescence Ignatius discovered Christ’s presence by reflection on the affective experience – feelings, intuitions, impressions - in his daily life.

 Having recovered, Ignatius lived an austere life in a cave outside the Spanish city of Manresa for nearly a year. During this time he recorded these ongoing affective experiences. He realized that these experiences were Christ present to him in a way so rich, so healing and regenerative that he came to desire nothing else. Ignatius created the Spiritual Exercises from this record of experiences.

 He left the cave, sensing that Christ was now inviting him into an active life of service.

 That new life began with a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, followed by extensive education in Spain and the University of Paris. There he gathered a group of friends we now call the First Companions, who pledged themselves to one another in Christ’s service.

 Desiring to undertake the greatest service to the church and world, they placed themselves at the service of the pope to go where the need was greatest. In 1540 the pope approved the formation of the Society of Jesus.

 Ignatius spent the remainder of his life in Rome, completing the Constitutions and directing this new Society.

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• CHICAGO PROVINCE:

The Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus is comprised of 235 Jesuits serving in a variety of ministries in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. Jesuits of the Province also serve international ministries in India, Nepal, Peru, Japan, and Africa. The Province operates 2 retreat houses, 5 high schools, 2 universities, and a not-for-profit publishing house in addition to a number of social, pastoral, and spiritual inititatives designed to deepen and enrich the lives of others.

Charis Ministries was founded in 2000 after Fr. Richard J Baumann, SJ, Provincial of the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus assigned Fr. Michael Sparough, SJ, to research ways to reach out to and evangelize young people between the ages of twenty and forty. Today Charis is sponsored by the Chicago Province and its many benefactors.

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• JESUITS TODAY:

For over 450 years Jesuit priests and brothers have lived an amazing story of serving the Church in new and unexpected ways. We are still men on the move, ready to change place, occupation, method--whatever will advance our mission in the Church. We are expected to do anything or go anywhere to teach Jesus Christ and preach his Good News.

Today that "we" has expanded to include men and women who share this vision of service to faith and to the justice that faith demands. Together Jesuits and lay partners place ourselves in the presence of the God who created all people and ask ourselves the questions that St. Ignatius suggested to his first companions during the period of prayer that led to their permanent companionship: What have I done for Christ? What am I doing for Christ? What will I do for Christ?

The Spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola animates all the works of the Society of Jesus—schools, parishes, centers of social justice, mission work, and spirituality centers—AMDG—to the Greater Glory of God.

The Jesuits work in a wide variety of ministries, including as pastors, retreat directors, journalists, teachers, lawyers, and physicians. Jesuits in the US are engaged in many international activities supporting justice efforts around the world.

• BY THE NUMBERS
Jesuits Worldwide:

19,216 in 2006 (364 fewer than in 2005)

13,491 priests

1,810 brothers

3,049 scholastics

866 novices

57.3 Average age of Jesuits in 2007


Jesuits by Region:

6,257 Europe

4,018 South Asia

2,952 United States

2,887 Latin America

1,672 East Asia & Oceania

1,430 Africa


- ASSOCIATES
- PUBLICATIONS OF INTEREST
- PUBLICATIONS & MEDIA
- RETREAT & SPIRITUAL CENTERS
- PARISHES
- A FAITH THAT DOES JUSTICE
- JESUIT SCHOOLS

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• BECOMING A JESUIT:

All Jesuits, whether they intend to be a Brother or a Priest, go through several stages of formation, including a 2-year novitiate, a period of philosophical/theological studies, followed by a 2-3 year experience of full-time ministry called regency. For those Jesuits intending to be priests, an additional three years of theological studies is required before ordination. Most men are ordained about 11 years after they join the order. More information...

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• SAINTS AND HEROES:

Jesuit Saints & Blesseds
  • Read more...

Pedro Arrupe, SJ (Jesuit saint)
  • “On falling in love with God”
  • "Fall in love, stay in love..."

Teilhard de Chardin, SJ
  • “Trust in the Lord of the Journey”

St. Francis Xavier, SJ (March 4th-12th)
  • Novena of Grace

St. Ignatius
  • The purpose of life
  • World of Ignatius of Loyola
  • The Life of St. Ignatius Loyola

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• JESUIT WRITERS & BLOGS:

  • Fr. Ben Hawley, SJ
  • Fr. Mark Link, SJ
  • Gerard Manley Hopkins

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