by Mike Gabriele
“When I first discerned religious life and thought about the Jesuits, I did find the length of the formation process to be a little daunting,” admits Jesuit scholastic Matthew Briand, SJ. “Now, as I have been in formation for seven years, I am grateful for the length of formation because with each stage, the vows and relationship with God have taken deeper and deeper roots in my identity. I know I will be a better priest and Jesuit because of our formation.”
Matt refers mostly to the estimated ten-year formation from entering the novitiate to priestly ordination. But ordination to the priesthood is not the final step of formation for Jesuits. Full incorporation into the Society of Jesus isn’t complete until the profession of final vows any number of years later.
Jesuit formation is indeed a lengthy process that dates back to the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus, written by St. Ignatius Loyola and approved in 1550. It is a comprehensive, rigorous, and deeply spiritual journey, designed to prepare Jesuits for a life of service, education, and devotion to the Church. The process is both demanding and rewarding, requiring a profound commitment to the Jesuit mission and a deepening of one’s relationship with God. Fr. John Wronski, SJ, has just completed a seven-year tenure as formation director for the USA East Province, allowing him to lead a group of Jesuits through most of their formation journey to the priesthood. “Being a formation director for the past seven years has given me the opportunity to ‘pay it forward’ to a new generation of Jesuits. Walking with them through the various stages has been a tremendous privilege in my own Jesuit life. They inspire me every day to be the best Jesuit I can be, and they give me lots of hope for the future of the province and the Church.”
Jesuit formation has five key stages —Novitiate, First Studies, Regency, Theology, and Tertianship—leading to final vows, each designed to strengthen the spiritual, intellectual, and practical aspects that shape a Jesuit’s way of proceeding.
The Novitiate
The formation of a Jesuit begins with two years at the novitiate, a period of intense spiritual growth and discernment. This stage cultivates the novice’s understanding of whether he is truly called to the Jesuit life. It begins with the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, a month-long retreat to deepen the novice’s relationship with God and help him discern his vocation. Novices live in community together and engage in various works of service.
First Studies
Following the novitiate, Jesuits enter First Studies, which lasts for three years. This period focuses on the study of philosophy, theology, and the humanities, integrated with community life and ministry, especially service to the poor and marginalized. Alec Hufford, SJ, is in his second year of First Studies. “My experiences in formation, whether unexpected apostolic assignments, new community experiences, or growth in self-knowledge, have come together to help me flourish into the kind of person that I hoped to become—someone more gentle and more joyful, more aware of my limitations and grateful for my gifts, and more free— able to follow Jesus’ voice in my life.”
Regency
The next stage in Jesuit formation is Regency, a period of two to three years during which Jesuits engage full-time in apostolic work. This provides an opportunity for Jesuits to apply their academic knowledge in practical settings, such as teaching in Jesuit schools, working in parishes, or serving in social justice ministries. Matt Briand, SJ, is in his second year of Regency and teaches theology at Loyola Blakefield in Baltimore. “The best part of Regency has been building relationships with the students. In my first year, I was just trying to keep my head above water. But what always brought joy, peace, and excitement was the knowledge that at the end of the day, I’m here to share God’s love with these kids by loving them as He does. That insight has remained with me as I’ve settled into my role. I try to bring that to the classroom every day, and I will bring that grace to my ministry as a priest.”
Michael Petro, SJ, is a first-year Regent doing work for Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) in Beirut. “Things in Beirut are complicated right now,” he says. “Despite that, the greatest grace is that I know I am meeting God every day—God who is much more creative, loving, joyful, and consistent than I am! Particularly the people of our parish, mostly refugees and migrant workers who live in very difficult circumstances, have given me new images of the Kingdom of God, which are incredibly freeing and sustaining.”
Theology
After Regency, Jesuits begin three years of advanced theological studies to prepare them for ordination. Jesuit schools of theology include the Clough School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College, the Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University in Berkeley, Calif., Regis College in Toronto, and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Jonathan Pennacchia, SJ, is entering his third year of Theology and will be ordained a priest next June. “As I discerned entering the Jesuits my senior year at Loyola University Maryland, the 10+ years of formation for priesthood felt dauntingly long! A campus minister and good mentor was my sounding board who simply asked: ‘What’s the rush?’ Above all, trust in the slow work of God—preparing to be a faithful and joyful Jesuit priest should not be rushed. So, I have come to enjoy the ‘slow learning’ that marks our Jesuit way of proceeding, as I grow in greater trust in the work that God is doing in my formation.”
Priestly Ordination or Jesuit Brother
Most Jesuits are called to the priesthood, but some do choose to become Jesuit brothers. Brothers follow a slightly different but equally rigorous formation path of studies and apostolic work and are called to support the Church and the Society of Jesus in many ways. Fr. Wronski explains, “Jesuit brothers—living a life of radical availability—are those who respond to a vocation of accompaniment—serving as doctors, teachers, social workers, retreat directors, but most of all, companions, walking alongside God’s people.”
Tertianship
The final stage of Jesuit formation is Tertianship, where Jesuits revisit the Spiritual Exercises and engage in a period of reflection on their formation journey. They often travel abroad, undertaking various apostolic assignments, which provide further opportunities for growth and discernment. “The primary grace of Tertianship has been making the Spiritual Exercises again,” says Fr. Jason Downer, SJ, Superior of the Canisius Jesuit Community in Buffalo and the Le Moyne Jesuit Community in Syracuse, and who is currently in Tertianship. “One of the surprises of my vocation has been training as a spiritual director and offering the 19th annotation retreat to people. Being able to disconnect for a month and just enter the quiet stillness of God’s love for me was a true blessing.”
Final Vows
A Jesuit’s formation officially concludes with the profession of final vows. A Jesuit is called to final vows by the Superior General in Rome when ready for full incorporation into the Society of Jesus. Fr. Patrick Nolan, SJ, professed his Final Vows at the Province Day Mass at Fordham University on June 7, 2024. “On my retreat this year, I prayed with Psalm 139, which begins, ‘Lord, you have probed me, you know me: you know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar.’ As I reflected on my formation experience, I never felt like it was ‘probation,’ the technical term used in Jesuit documents. I felt and continue to feel loved, cared for, encouraged, challenged, and appreciated by fellow Jesuits, my superiors, and my colleagues. These are the same ways I feel Jesus has accompanied me.”
The Jesuit formation period may be a rather long, rigorous process, but it is a spiritual journey that fills each of these men of faith with inspiration and joy. “The Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives is never clearer than when we are filled with joy,” adds Jonathan Pennacchia. “Indeed, this way of Jesuit formation is marked not only by slow learning but by joy. I hope and pray that as a Jesuit priest, I will continue to be able to point out God’s way in the lives of those I encounter and to do so joyfully!”
Alec Hufford, still early on in his formation journey, may sum it up best as he reflects on the Spiritual Exercises, “One of my favorite phrases from the Spiritual Exercises is ‘tanto bien recibido’: so much good received. Yes, I have received so much good from the Lord through my experience in the Society of Jesus, and I know that God has so much more to give me.”
Jesuits USA East relies on the generous support of friends and benefactors to help our Jesuits in formation receive the education and training they need to fulfill their call of the Holy Spirit on their journey to become priests and brothers in the Society of Jesus. We are grateful for your support.