Nine young men from the Chicago-Detroit and Wisconsin Provinces recently pronounced perpetual vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience as Jesuits. At a liturgy on Sat, August 13 at St. Thomas More Church in St. Paul, each novice professed his vows and then received a Crucifix, a sign of his dedication to following Christ. The Vows Crucifix remains with a Jesuit for his entire life.
Several Jesuits from both provinces attended the Vows ceremony and celebrated the men who publicly professed their commitment to Jesuit life. Following the service, the freshly-vowed men joined their family and friends at a social held in the parish center.
Below are reflections from John Roselle, SJ, one of the young men who pronounced his first vows, about the event:
“This past Saturday, eight other men and I made the most important decision of our lives. After two years of intense soul-searching in the “Jesuit novitiate,” we felt called to finally commit our lives to poverty, chastity, and obedience in the Society of Jesus. During Mass, in a church packed with our loved ones who came to support us, we went up one-by-one in the front of the Eucharist, knelt down, and promised to live the rest of our lives as Jesuits. There were many tears, but much joy.
What brought us to this point? For each Jesuit it is different, but it is fair to say that what we have in common is an experience of God, a desire to serve God and His people, and a sense of trust that being a Jesuit is right for us. This took a long time for us to each realize, but eventually we had to take the leap of faith.
What is it like to take vows? It is a deeply personal decision that is both profound and joyful. We trust that this is the beginning of a new and wonderful life. Jesus promised His followers that whatever they gave up for the sake of the Kingdom they would receive back one-hundredfold. If we live the vows well, they will be boomerangs of grace that will backfire with blessings. Each of the three vows are gateways to tremendous freedom. This way of life is a witness to the world that God is alive, active, and interested in them. I have seen how this way of life can inspire and aid people in their needs. It is not about us; it’s about God and “helping souls,” as St. Ignatius so desired the Jesuits to do.”
