Formation

• The First Steps
• Discernment & Application
• The Novitiate
• First Studies
• Regency
• Theology Studies
• Summer Experiences
• Graduate Studies
• Tertianship
• Final Vows

The First Steps

The first steps in considering life as a Jesuit are very informal and without obligation. A Jesuit vocation is ultimately a fraternal relationship, and so the best way to learn more about us is to meet a "live" Jesuit and to have a simple conversation with him. The Assistant for Vocations will gladly arrange a meeting with a Jesuit in the inquirer's local area. He can also refer inquirers living in other provinces to the vocation director for their province. You can contact him at: vocation@jesuits.ca.

Discernment & Application

If the initial conversation leads to a deeper interest in exploring the Jesuit vocation, the local Jesuit contact may invite the man to contact the Assistant for Vocations to begin a more formal discernment process, which can include opportunities to learn about and experience what life and ministry in the Society of Jesus involve. Check out some of these opportunities by clicking here.

If this discernment process leads to the belief on both parts that it is reasonable to proceed further, a man may elect, with the approval of the Assistant for Vocations, to apply for admission into the novitiate. The application process is meant to be an experience of discernment through which the Society of Jesus and an applicant enter freely and honestly into an intense time of reflection, assessment and discovery. Through this process, the two strive with the help of the Holy Spirit to discover the will of God, and they commit themselves to a faith-filled response to it.

Once a person is admitted to the Society, the ordinary course of formation will take about ten years for most scholastics, and seven to eight years for most brothers. As the Church and as the world around us change, the fundamental thrust of our formation is to prepare priests and brothers who are well educated, trained in the Spiritual Exercises, with skills to minister in a diverse and ever changing environment.

The Novitiate

The first two years of a Jesuit’s life are spent in the novitiate, a bilingual program located in Montreal, and shared by the English Canada and French Canada Provinces. The four fundamental goals during this time are verification of one's vocation, a more intimate relationship with the Lord, growth in authentic self-knowledge and an increasing love for the Society of Jesus.

For the first-year novices, the first two weeks in the novitiate (sometimes called postulancy) are a time for reading, discussion, and prayer intended to seek affirmation of their desire to be incorporated into the Jesuit novitiate.

In October, the novices make the Spiritual Exercises, a thirty-day silent retreat developed by St. Ignatius Loyola. Following the long retreat, they participate in various classes, including conferences on Jesuit life, the history and customs of the Society of Jesus, an introduction to the person of Jesus in Scripture, and sessions shared with novices of other congregations (the inter-novitiate program). They also participate in a local ministry one day a week.

In the second semester, they continue with the classes and the inter-novitiate program until late February. Then they are assigned for a period of six weeks or so to what is known as the “Hospital Experiment”, which for most means living in a L’Arche community. This experience is intended to help the person understand what genuine human community is about and how people serve each other for mutual growth and wholeness.

After returning for a brief time to the novitiate, they then undertake a pilgrimage lasting four to six weeks. The destination is determined individually in discernment with the Director of Novices. The intention of this experience is to foster in the person a deep sense of trust in the providence of God and the realization that God works in our life through the agency of others.

The second-year novices also live in Montreal during the first semester and participate in various classes plus selected seminars. In addition, they engage in local ministry two days a week.. From January through May, each novice works full-time at a Jesuit apostolate either in Canada or abroad. In June, they return to Montreal for a vow retreat lasting eight days in preparation for their profession of perpetual vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the Society of Jesus.

Both years share various activities in common. These include an annual vacation period with others in later stages of formation (usually early August), an annual retreat, the annual family visit (usually after Christmas), and various workshops. Every second year, the novices travel to Denver, CO for the Jesuit History program, which brings together the novices from all of the US provinces, Canada, Jamaica, and sometimes beyond.

At the end of this two-year period of prayer, work and study, the novice pronounces perpetual vows of poverty, chastity and obedience either as a brother or as a scholastic. The vow ceremony takes place in mid-August.

First Studies

The ordinary program for those who have already completed at least a bachelor’s degree involves two years of study concentrated primarily on philosophy. This takes place in Toronto, where men live in the community known as Cardoner House. The studies also include humanities and some theology. If a man enters without a bachelor's degree, then he will normally go to Ottawa to study at the Dominican College, where he will obtain a BA. During this time, they also are involved in ministry, usually for the equivalent of one afternoon a week.

Regency

This is a two-year period of full insertion into the apostolic life of the Society in both community and ministry. Where this happens and what form of ministry is involved is the subject of a discernment with the Assistant for Formation and the Provincial. It could happen in Canada or in some international setting.

During the second year of regency, the individual writes to Fr. Provincial to request advancement to the study of theology. This initiates a serious assessment of the person’s progress in his integration into the Society of Jesus.

Theology Studies

The Church requires candidates for ordination to complete four years of theology studies. Brothers are also generally expected to study some theology, although not necessarily with a view to obtaining a degree. In addition to their studies each man will give six to eight hours each week to pastoral ministries (spiritual direction, campus ministry, parish work, refugee services, etc.) under the guidance of the field education supervisor. These studies are normally done at Regis College, the Jesuit school of theology in Toronto.

Since 1981 the Society has required that each man seeking ordination participate in an "Arrupe Experience." This experience of retreat, discussion and reflection on priesthood is done during the summer before the third year. Afterwards, men formally petition the Provincial for permission to be ordained, which results in another serious assessment of the man’s suitability for ordination and ordained ministry.

Ordination to the diaconate ordinarily occurs in April of the third year, and to the priesthood in June of the fourth year of studies.

Summer Experiences

During the course of formation most men will have six or seven summers available after novitiate. These summers are used to further the individual's formation, particularly in four specific areas: the study of Spanish or another language; an experience of the international Society; further ministry with the poor; and training in the Spiritual Exercises and spiritual direction.

Graduate Studies

Often advanced studies are desired by an individual and/or encouraged by the Provincial. The primary criterion in this discernment is the apostolic purpose of the study. These studies usually occur after theology.

Tertianship

The Provincial usually invites men to begin tertianship three to five years after finishing theology or graduate studies. There are two types of tertianship programs available. The first is a seven to nine-month program that runs during the academic year, and the second is a two-year program that runs during two consecutive summers. In both programs, tertians study the foundational documents of the Society of Jesus, make the 30-day retreat, study the Spiritual Exercises, and participate in an apostolic experiment chosen by the tertian master. Where the person does his tertianship is a matter of discernment with the Provincial. English-speaking tertianships are available in the U.S., England, the Philippines, India, Australia..... Tertianships in French or Spanish are also available to those with competence in the language.

Final Vows

At some point shortly after tertianship, the Provincial invites the Jesuit to request permission from Fr. General to make his final profession. After yet another serious assessment, if the person is deemed to have satisfied the criteria, Fr. General calls him to final vows.