How a Year of Service at Canisius High School Helped Three Jesuits Confirm Their Vocation
Three Jesuits who served at Canisius High School during their discernment year, prior to entering the Jesuit novitiate, were featured in a recent webinar organized by the USA East Jesuit Vocations Office. Mr. Alec Hufford, SJ, Mr. Luke Olsen, SJ, and Mr. Mitchell Tu, SJ – Jesuits currently in the First Studies stage of their formation – shared how their experience of service and community at the Jesuit high school in Buffalo, NY, confirmed their decision to apply to the Society of Jesus. The event, titled, Jesuit Journeys: Formed at Canisius, Called to a Jesuit Vocation, aired on Thursday, February 13, 2025, and was moderated by Fr. Chuck Frederico, SJ, the Director of Campus Ministry at Canisius High School. The webinar was recorded, and you can watch it here.
Fr. Frederico opened the webinar sharing his role in initiating the discernment program during his time as Jesuit Vocation Director. He recalled asking Fr. David Ciancimino, SJ, who was in his first year as President, if he could send a discerner to teach at Canisius, reflecting, “It’s a privilege to see that the program continued.” Fr. Frederico spoke warmly of the first discerner to serve at Canisius, Mr. Bryan Galligan, SJ, (January 2016 to June 2017) who is now in theology studies in preparation for ordination. Fr. Frederico also described the “grace” of working alongside discerners such as Mr. Mitchell Tu, SJ, and Monsieur François Venne, SJ, since he was missioned to Canisius in 2021.
Mr. Christian Zombek, SJ and Mr. Mario Verde, SJ, now both in the regency stage of their formation at Gonzaga College High School and Messina College, a new school within Boston College, respectively, also served for a year at Canisius before entering the Jesuits.
The Call to a Jesuit Vocation
Each panelist reflected on what initially drew them to consider a Jesuit vocation. Luke Olsen shared that his path to the Society of Jesus began while he was working for a nonprofit and pursuing graduate study at Duke University. Serving South Sudanese refugees in Northern Uganda, Olsen experienced the intersection of “faith and justice…If we believe in a God who loves us and loves everybody, then part of our work in the world, part of our loving that God means caring about other people and caring about the world that we are in and wanting to work for justice.” Olsen said, “I got back to Duke, and I met Jesuits who were also talking about faith and justice.” His discernment deepened after graduation, when he taught church history and ethics at Canisius High School. “My Jesuit vocation and my life at Canisius that year are really, really linked,” he said.
You Did It! We Did It!
A significant moment for Alec Hufford was the night before his interview at Canisius. He shared, “A Jesuit said to me, ‘If you are called to it, it’s a real good life.’” During his two years (2018-2020) at Canisius, Hufford taught English and religion, led two trips to Belize, directed Kairos and Emmaus retreats, and even sponsored a student for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Hufford recounted Fr. Ciancimino’s advice: “The purpose of our school is for these students to meet and fall in love with the Lord. They may not remember everything you teach, but they will remember that you love them and that you love Jesus.”
Mitchell Tu recalled teaching freshman religion classes, where he noticed how his students’ energy on Mondays often depended on the result of the Buffalo Bills’ game the night before. A service trip to Mexico during his year at Canisius confirmed his vocation. During the trip he realized: “It’s not about material goods. It’s not about any things we value… It’s really about having these relationships… and I said, ‘OK, if this is what a Jesuit life is like I want this every moment of my life.’” Now, three years later, he was able to say, “I have proof of it now, and I really want this for myself.”
Olsen highlighted the significance of living and working with Jesuits who both supported and, at times, challenged him as a new teacher. He fondly recalled coming home from leading a Wilderness Retreat, “Fr. Corcoran was there in the parking and was like, ‘You did it! We did it! Great job!’ And that meant a lot to me.”
Continuation of the Love Experienced
As the conversation shifted to their time after Canisius, Tu spoke about the contrast between the active and the contemplative life in the novitiate. During the thirty days of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola, Tu shared, “You realize prayer works. You really can know Jesus more deeply.” He also shared that among the several experiments that St. Ignatius Loyola prescribed for first- and second-year novices was the hospital experiment, which took place soon after the 30-day retreat. When his patients found out that he was a Jesuit, Tu shared, “They wanted me there. I could see the peace that my presence and little prayer did for them.” This experience reinforced for him, “There is a need for people like us who want to be there with Jesus Christ and His people.”
He also noted that he wasn’t alone “You always have Jesuit brothers with you… I joined a brotherhood… There are people doing this with me… with the same goal to serve Jesus and love his people.”
The panelists offered insights into how their Canisius experiences continue to shape their Jesuit journey. Olsen shared how recognizing every student’s unique story at Canisius prepared him for ministry in diverse contexts, from teaching at Xavier High School in Micronesia to working in the Onondaga County jail. Hufford and Tu echoed these sentiments, noting how the lessons learned at Canisius provide hope and direction for their vocations.
In the spirit of Pope Francis’ recurring theme of a “God of surprises,” Hufford concluded by sharing about his experience at Canisius: “It gave me profound hope for the Church and for the world… I found such openness, such energy, such a desire for faith, for knowing themselves… The future is bright.”
If you feel called to explore a Jesuit vocation like Alec, Luke, Mitchell, or Fr. Frederico, please visit BeAJesuit.org.
