5 November 2007
Feast of All the Saints of the Society
Dear Friends in the Lord: Peace of Christ!
On 6 January 2008, in the aula (conference hall) of the General Curia of the Society of Jesus, the Thirty-Fifth General Congregation will convene, as Jesuits from around the world gather to elect a new Superior General and set a direction for the Society into the coming years. This watershed moment—which will affect the lives of every Jesuit and all those committed to the mission of the Society, both Jesuit and lay partners alike—should remind each of us about the grace of our worldwide community, founded by the power of the Spirit and sustained by our prayers and efforts. And it should also remind us that, unless we continue to invite and welcome new Jesuits into our community, none of our grand visions of partnership or deeply felt prayers will realize the Kingdom we are meant to build.
Vocation promotion and recruitment of men for the Society of Jesus is foundational to successful partnership and essential for every work and community that values its Jesuit identity. It is part of the mission of every Jesuit and Jesuit community; but more than that, it should be a constitutive element of every Jesuit ministry.
 |
Jack Bentz, S.J.
Assistant for Vocations
|
Since 2002, the U.S. Provincials have designated November 5, the Feast of All Saints and Blessed of the Society of Jesus, as “National Jesuit Vocation Promotion Day,” and have made the month of November a special time for our communities and works both to pray for vocations to the Jesuit life and to sponsor activities that express our commitment to those vocations. This year, to deepen our response and encourage even more activity, I am asking all of you in the Province to use the entire month of November, until the Feast of St. Francis Xavier on December 3, as a special time for the promotion of vocations to the Jesuit life and ministry.
What better time could there be for such promotion and invitation? During this month, our brothers in the first year of the novitiate are in their 30-day Long Retreat, encountering the God who calls them in love and service, to the side of Christ and the care of His people. Their presence testifies to the power of the Spirit, who is our guide and ally. However, although we have been blessed with a fine formation community, we cannot rest on these graces; but we must continue to be aggressive and resourceful in offering to the world the mission to which God has called us, and in inviting young men to share that mission as members of the Society.
The attraction of Jesuit life comes, first of all, through the witness Jesuits give as men excited by this holy mission, as brothers supported by a vibrant community life, and as companions of Jesus enriched by the power of God acting in our lives. Even in these days of public challenge—indeed, especially in these days—we must speak boldly about our experiences of God both individually and communally; calling, through our companionship, those who would share this life of service beneath the banner of the cross. While vocation promotion cannot replace the grace of God moving in each individual’s life, grace builds on nature when we present the joy of Jesuit life to those open to it.
 |
Steve Lantry , S.J.
Vocation Director |
But Jesuits cannot do this work alone. As in our many ministries, we rely on our partners in their various vocations as teachers and parents, youth ministers and retreat directors, Jesuit Volunteers and Ignatian ministers to help us invite and support those who may be thinking of a Jesuit vocation. I ask each of you, Jesuit or lay partner, to do what you can this month and throughout the year to find ways to help young men open their hearts to the call of the Christ, who may be leading them to the Society of Jesus. The future of our partnership and our service of the Kingdom depends upon supporting these discernments.
I am grateful to Fr. Jack Bentz (jbentz@nwjesuits.org), our new Assistant for Vocations, and Steve Lantry (slantry@nwjesuits.org), our continuing Vocation Director, for their tireless work in this area. Let us join together to ensure that both of our brothers will be busy in the months and years to come. I encourage you to work with them in your efforts and support them in the work they do.
May God, the source of all our vocations, continue to sustain us as ministers of the Gospel and bless us with future generations of dedicated Jesuit and lay partners.
John D. Whitney, S.J.
Provincial
A Prayer for Jesuit Vocations
enerous God,
for the sake of the people redeemed by your Son,
pour out your Spirit of hope.
Give to each person a vocation to your service,
and to each give the courage to respond.
Send Jesuit companions into our midst,
and fire their hearts with your love,
enflame their lives with your passion.
May they have wisdom to follow the call that you give,
and the generosity to serve in your name.
May they love you in your people all the days of their lives.
We make this prayer through the intercession of
Mary our Mother and Joseph her spouse,
and in companionship with Ignatius and all the saints,
who serve, even now,
to Your greater honor and glory.
Amen. |
