Vow Day
August 11, 2007
Jason Vaz pronounced his first vows as a member of the Society of Jesus at the Jesuit Novitiate in St. Paul, MN, along with five other novices of the Missouri and Wisconsin Provinces. Fr. Jean-Marc Laporte, S.J., Provincial Superior of the Jesuits in English Canada, was the homilist at the mass. Frs. Tom Krettick, S.J. (WIS) and Tim McMahon, S.J. (MIS), Provincial Superiors, were also in attendance at the mass. The three provincials received the vows of their respective province members.
Jason is originally from Mumbai, India, where he attended St. Stanislaus Jesuit School before moving to Canada with his family. Prior to entering the English Canada Province of the Jesuits in 2005, Jason completed the first year of studies in philosophy at the University of Toronto. He will now move to Ottawa, ON, where he will complete the study of philosophy at Dominican College.
The Vow Formula for First Vows in the Society of Jesus
Almighty and eternal God, I, (Name), though altogether most unworthy in your divine sight, yet relying on your infinite goodness and mercy and moved with a desire of serving you, in the presence of the most Holy Virgin Mary and your whole heavenly court, vow to Your Divine Majesty perpetual poverty, chastity and obedience in the Society of Jesus; and I promise that I shall enter the same Society in order to lead my entire life in it, understanding all things according to its Constitutions.
Therefore I suppliantly beg Your Immense Goodness and Clemency, through the blood of Jesus Christ, to deign to receive this holocaust in an odor of sweetness; and that just as you gave me the grace to desire and offer this, so you will also bestow on me abundant grace to fulfill it.
Jason, front row centre, with his classmates from the Wisconsin and Missouri provinces who pronounced their vows together
Jason pronounces his vows before the Eucharist in the presence of the three provincials and the novitiate directors
Some of Jason's family, his mother, brother, and aunt, joined him for the happy occasion