2006 Archive

Isidro Lepez ,S.J., Matthew Holland, S.J., Philip Sutherland, S.J., Matthew
Zahler, S.J., Aaron Engebretson.,S.J. stand with (back, from left) Revs. Paul Fitterer,S.J., Socius to the Novice Director, Thomas Lamanna,S.J., Novice Director, John Whitney,S.J., Provincial, and Steve Lantry,S.J., Vocation Director.

Five Oregon Province men, Isidro Lepez, Matthew Holland, Philip Sutherland, Matthew Zahler, and Aaron Engebretson, knelt before the Lord in the presence of their friends, family and Jesuit brothers at St. Ignatius Church in Portland and professed their first vows in the Society Aug 12, 2006.

The Mass and vow ceremony are part of an entire "Vow Weekend" that the Society celebrates for men at the completion of their time in the Novitiate - their first two years spent in the Society. Jesuits traditionally profess vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience on or near the Feast of the Assumption.

After profession of first vows, a Jesuit becomes a scholastic and moves on to his first studies at one of the programs established for the next stage of formation. Isidro, Philip and Matthew Z. will be studying at Loyola University, Chicago, Matthew H. is bound for St. Louis University in Missouri, while Aaron will head to Toronto to study at Regis College.