Welcome
Thank you
for your interest in the California Province of the Society
of Jesus (Jesuits). We are overjoyed of your desire to learn more about the
Society of Jesus and to explore a possible vocation to religious life, serving
as priest or brother.
It’s hard
for me to believe that I am approaching my 23rd year with the Society. After
working for 10 years as an executive speech writer/communication specialist and
Human Resources director for a major corporation, I made a dramatic career
change at age 33 and applied to enter the Jesuits. I had not seriously thought
about being in religious life during my high school and university studies, and
it was only after working for a period of time and doing quite a bit of
volunteer work that the desire to explore a vocation with the Jesuits became a
real option for me and one that I wanted to pursue.
In August
of 2009, we were blessed to have 10 men, ranging in age from 19 to 31, enter
our novitiate in Culver City.
Some of our entering novices have had an interest in religious life since a
very early age and for others, like me, the sense of a “call” from God came
later in life.
So, as you
can see, the age range for a candidate varies and it just proves, once again,
that God works (and calls us) in mysterious ways. The path of discernment
varies for each man. As Vocation Director, my role is to help you discern
whatever path Our Dear Lord may be inviting you to explore. I consider it a
great privilege and blessing to walk with men as they examine the deepest desires
of their hearts, listen more closely to what God may be saying to them, and
develop a greater openness to how God may be inviting them to serve.
If you
would like to explore the desires of your heart and to learn more about the
Jesuits, I look forward to hearing from you! We offer silent retreats, “Come
and See” events, informal gatherings with individual Jesuits and Jesuit
communities, regular meetings with a spiritual director, and other ways to help
you in your discernment. As you start or continue on this journey, be assured
of my prayers and those of the priests and brothers in the California Province.
Br. James
C. (Jim) Siwicki, S.J.
Vocation
Director
E-mail: jsiwicki@calprov.org
Office: 408-884-1613
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