Rachel Evans
The Jesuits, formally known as the Society of Jesus, is a male religious order of priests and brothers in the Catholic Church. Founded in 1540 by Ignatius Loyola, the Jesuits are the largest male Catholic religious order in the world, with over 15,000 members serving in more than 100 nations. Jesuits can choose to be priests or brothers, with both groups taking the same vows and living and praying in a religious community. To become a Jesuit, one must be a single, Catholic male aged 18 to 45 and undergo a rigorous formation process that includes stages of novitiate, studying, full-time work, and ordination or final profession. This process can last upwards of 15 years and is designed to develop the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—for service to the Church and the world.
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What You'll Learn
- Requirements: Single Catholic male, 18-45, citizen of US/Canada or permanent resident
- Novitiate: Two-year program to pray, work and learn about the Society of Jesus
- First Studies: Grounding in philosophy and theology, attaining a first degree
- Regency: Three years in active ministry, like an internship
- Theology Studies: Final step toward priestly ordination
Requirements: Single Catholic male, 18-45, citizen of US/Canada or permanent resident
If you are a single Catholic male between the ages of 18 and 45, and a citizen of the US or Canada or a permanent resident, you may be eligible to become a Jesuit Catholic.
The Jesuits, or the Society of Jesus, is a male religious order of priests and brothers in the Catholic Church. It was founded in 1540 by Ignatius Loyola and is currently the largest men's religious order in the Roman Catholic Church, with around 14,000 to 16,000 Jesuits worldwide serving in over 100 nations. Jesuits work in a variety of roles, including teachers, doctors, lawyers, writers, and artists, and engage in missionary work and social justice activities.
The process of becoming a Jesuit typically takes between 8 to 17 years, and sometimes even longer, making it one of the longest religious ordinations in the world. It involves several stages, including:
- Novitiate: This is a two-year program where candidates learn about the Society of Jesus, community, ministry, and Ignatian spirituality. They also take part in a 30-day silent retreat known as the "Long Retreat" and complete the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.
- First Studies: For the next three years, Jesuits-in-training study philosophy and theology, obtaining a bachelor's degree in theology and often a second degree in a specialized area.
- Regency: In this stage, Jesuits engage in active ministry and serve in the community for three years.
- Theology Studies: The final academic stage lasts another three years, preparing Jesuits for priestly ordination.
- Tertianship: After ordination, Jesuits undertake Tertianship, revisiting the fundamentals of Jesuit life, including the history and Constitutions of the Jesuits, and participating in various ministries.
During their formation, Jesuits take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, as well as an additional vow of special obedience to the Pope in matters regarding missions. They are formed spiritually, academically, and practically to serve the Church and the world.
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Novitiate: Two-year program to pray, work and learn about the Society of Jesus
The Novitiate is a two-year program for men to pray, work and learn about the Society of Jesus. During the first year, novices must partake in the "Long Retreat," a 30-day silent retreat in which they complete the full Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. They also participate in a variety of experiments, often including ministering to the homeless or sick, and going on a pilgrimage.
The Novitiate is the first stage of Jesuit formation, which is the process by which candidates are prepared for ordination or brotherly service in the Society of Jesus, the world's largest male Catholic religious order. The process is based on the Constitution of the Society of Jesus, written by Ignatius of Loyola and approved in 1550.
During the Novitiate, Jesuits learn about community, ministry, the Society of Jesus, and Ignatian spirituality. They also make a 30-day retreat and pronounce vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
After the Novitiate, the Jesuit becomes either a Scholastic (entering onto the path of priesthood) or a Jesuit brother. The scholastics and the Brothers of the Society of Jesus have different courses of study, although they often overlap. For scholastics, the usual course of studies is as follows: First Studies is the period when the scholastic begins his academic formation. Depending on his prior education, it will last 2–4 years, guaranteeing a grounding in philosophy and the attainment of at least a first university-level degree.
The formation of a Jesuit is a journey that can last more than 15 years and encompasses five key stages: Novitiate, First Studies, Regency, Theology Studies, and Tertianship. Jesuit formation aims to develop the potential of the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—for the universal mission of the Society and the service of the Church.
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First Studies: Grounding in philosophy and theology, attaining a first degree
The Society of Jesus, commonly called the Jesuits, is a male religious order of priests and brothers in the Catholic Church. The Jesuits were founded in 1540 by Ignatius Loyola, who was strongly influenced by the Renaissance. Jesuits are devoted to the Church's pastoral needs and are formed spiritually, academically, and practically for the ministries they offer the Church and world.
The First Studies period is when a Jesuit scholastic begins their academic formation. This phase lasts between two and four years, depending on the Jesuit's prior education, and guarantees a grounding in philosophy and the attainment of a first university-level degree. For example, in the United States, this would typically be a four-year bachelor's degree.
During First Studies, scholastics deepen their understanding of philosophy, exploring fundamental questions about the nature of reality, knowledge, and ethics through systematic reasoning. They also engage with theology, studying God and all things in relation to God, interpreting authoritative texts, and examining the intellectual underpinnings of religious traditions.
The study of philosophy and theology often involves a wide range of disciplines, including history, textual analysis, linguistics, sociology, and literary criticism. This interdisciplinary approach enhances the scholastic's critical thinking, interpretation, and understanding of the complex relationships between faith and reason.
Upon completion of First Studies, the scholastic will have obtained a strong foundation in philosophy and theology, as well as a first degree, typically in philosophy, theology, or a related field. This academic formation prepares them for further studies and their future roles in serving the Church and society.
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Regency: Three years in active ministry, like an internship
The regency period is a vital stage in the journey to becoming a Jesuit Catholic, marking the first time a Jesuit brother or scholastic engages in full-time work in a Jesuit ministry. This stage typically lasts two to three years, providing candidates with practical experience in apostolic work and community life within the Society of Jesus.
During regency, individuals are immersed in the day-to-day operations of Jesuit ministries, living and working alongside other Jesuits in apostolic communities. This hands-on approach equips them with valuable skills and knowledge that complement their spiritual and academic formation. It is a period of active ministry, often likened to an internship, where they can apply their learning and deepen their understanding of Jesuit life.
The specific assignments during regency vary based on factors such as age, apostolic needs, and individual interests. Commonly, about 50% of men are assigned to high schools, 30% to universities, and the remaining 20% work in social and pastoral ministries. This diversity reflects the breadth of Jesuit service, which includes teaching, social work, writing, pastoral care, and missionary work.
For example, Fr. Joseph Hill, SJ, after completing his Master's in philosophy, spent his regency teaching theology at Jesuit High School in New Orleans for three years. Similarly, Fr. Juan Ruiz, SJ, following his Master's in Social Philosophy, dedicated his regency years to teaching Spanish at Cristo Rey Jesuit in Houston, TX.
The regency period is a pivotal phase in the formation of Jesuits, offering them a practical understanding of their future roles and allowing them to contribute to the Society's mission while gaining valuable experience and insight.
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Theology Studies: Final step toward priestly ordination
The final step towards priestly ordination is the Theology Studies stage. This stage lasts for at least five years, divided into two cycles: a basic and a specialised one. It is common for Jesuits to study abroad during this time. After the fourth year of Theology Studies, Jesuit scholastics are ordained as priests. Upon completing their studies, the Jesuit is assigned his first apostolic mission, becoming fully integrated into a Jesuit community dedicated to apostolic work.
Theology Studies is preceded by the Regency stage, wherein the scholastic lives and works in a typical Jesuit community. He is engaged full-time in ministry (an Apostolate), which is traditionally teaching in a secondary school, but it may be any ministry Jesuits are engaged in. Regency lasts for 2–3 years.
Theology Studies is the final stage of Jesuit formation, or the training of Jesuits, which is the process by which candidates are prepared for ordination or brotherly service in the Society of Jesus, the world's largest male Catholic religious order. The process is based on the Constitution of the Society of Jesus written by Ignatius of Loyola and approved in 1550. There are various stages, from a novice, to studying, to full-time work and a return to studies before ordination as a priest or final profession as a brother. They are formed spiritually, academically and practically for the ministries they offer the Church and world. St. Ignatius was strongly influenced by the Renaissance and wanted Jesuits to be able to offer whatever ministries were most needed at any given moment, and especially, to be ready to respond to missions (assignments) from the Pope.
Formation for priesthood normally takes between 8 and 17 years, depending on the man's background and previous education, and final vows are taken several years after that. Jesuits work in a wide variety of roles including teacher, doctor, poet, lawyer, social worker, writer, administrator, professor, pastor, scientist and artist. They also engage in missionary work, direct evangelization to the poor, social justice activities, interreligious dialogue and other ministries.
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Frequently asked questions
Jesuits are members of the Society of Jesus, the largest men's religious order in the Roman Catholic Church. Jesuits can be priests or brothers, and they work in a wide variety of roles, including teachers, doctors, poets, lawyers, social workers, writers, administrators, professors, pastors, scientists and artists.
The basic requirements include being a single, Catholic male aged 18 to 45. In the US and Canada, one must be a citizen or have permanent residency status. Candidates must also have a strong foundation in intellectual studies to be able to fulfil any assignments given to them by the Pope.
The formation of a Jesuit is a journey that can last more than 15 years and encompasses five key stages: Novitiate, First Studies, Regency, Theology Studies, and Tertianship. During the Novitiate, Jesuits learn about community, ministry, the Society of Jesus, and Ignatian spirituality, and make a 30-day retreat. After two years, they pronounce vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. During the First Studies, Jesuits study philosophy and theology for three years while also serving in the community. The Regency stage involves three years of active ministry, similar to an internship. Finally, during the Theology Studies stage, Jesuits spend another three years studying theology as a final step towards priestly ordination.
Jesuits take the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Additionally, they make a vow of special obedience to the Pope in matters regarding missions, promising to undertake any mission laid out in the Formula of the Institute.
Jesuits devote themselves to the Church's pastoral needs and are available for missions from the Pope. They engage in missionary work, direct evangelization to the poor, social justice activities, interreligious dialogue, and other ministries. Jesuits strive to be "men for others" and provide Christian retreats based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
