Dear Friends,
“From death, from dark, from deafness, from despairs, This life, this light, this Word, this joy repairs.” -St. Robert Southwell, S.J.
These lines are from “The Nativity of Christ” by one of my favorite Jesuit saints and poets, St. Robert Southwell, S.J. It is a beautiful reminder that the birth of Jesus, the Word made flesh, is the light that conquers all darkness, despair, and even death. We celebrate a God who continues to dwell among us—a light to guide, comfort, and give us strength.
God calls us to be that light for others, to be the hands of Christ in our world today. That is our Jesuit Charism. When we serve the least of God’s children—those who hunger, have no home, are lonely and forgotten—we indeed serve our Savior. By supporting the Jesuits of the USA East Province, you support our mission to minister and serve those on the margins and to educate young men and women who go forth from our institutions as brothers and sisters for others.
Our Jesuits in formation, more than 40 heeding the call of the Holy Spirit, rely on your support. Our elderly and infirm Jesuits, more than 300 now over the age of 70, rely on your support. Our mission to go where the need is greatest, here in our province and throughout the world, relies on your support.
This is a season of hope. Our Lord came to us as a babe in a manger, and His everlasting promise before ascending back into heaven was that He would be with us always. Thank you for being with, and for, the Jesuits of the USA East Province. It is because of your generosity that we have hope in our efforts to fully live our vocation of service to others.
May the peace of Christ, the source of all hope, be with you this Christmas Season and throughout the New Year.
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Joseph O’Keefe, SJ,
Provincial