May 27, 2025 — Here’s the latest news from the Jesuits in Canada and the United States.
Jesuits Honored for Justice Work
Fr. Thomas Smolich, SJ, and Fr. Stephen Privett, SJ, were among those recognized for embodying the Catholic call to faith and justice at the Ignatian Solidarity Network’s (ISN) annual Ignite: A Celebration of Justice on May 8 at the University of San Francisco.
Fr. Smolich, rector of the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University, received the evening’s highest honor, the Robert M. Holstein Faith Doing Justice Award. He reflected on ISN’s history and a justice-centered vision of the Gospel. “Over these 20 years, ISN has changed, has grown,” he said. “That process is not going to stop because the world continues to change.”
“We live in a moment punctuated by fear, or better, certain people use the punctuation of fear, lots of exclamation points, bold caps, screaming emojis, to separate us, to see the other as an enemy,” Fr. Smolich said.
Fr. Privett, along with Loretta Holstein and Ann Magovern, received the Rev. Charlie Currie, S.J. ISN Animators Award for their significant contributions to ISN’s founding and evolution during its first 20 years. “Following the Gospel is impossible without working for a more just world,” Chris Kerr, executive director of ISN, emphasized at the event. Read more.
Jesuit Ordained to the Diaconate in Toronto
Antony Simon, SJ, of the Jesuits of Canada, was ordained to the diaconate on May 17, 2025, at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Toronto by Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, SJ. Simon, who is currently pursuing a Licentiate in Canon Law at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, will be ordained to the priesthood in August 2025 in Haiti.
Fr. Jim Martin, SJ, on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”
Fr. James Martin, SJ, joined “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” recently to discuss Pope Leo and predicted that the pope is “not going to be afraid to speak his mind.”
Jesuit Reflects on His Interfaith Vocation Story
Before entering the Jesuit novitiate in 2020, Cyrus Habib, SJ, was serving as the lieutenant governor of the state of Washington, and his decision to leave public life was surprising to many who viewed Habib as an up-and-comer in Democratic politics.
Five years into his Jesuit formation, he says that his Jesuit journey has been “life-giving in myriad ways.” Currently working in Nairobi with the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar, Habib writes about his life as a Jesuit and how the Dalai Lama played a role in giving him the clarity and courage to apply to the Jesuits. Read more.
New Book Chronicles Jesuit Friendship
The story of how two Jesuits — the late Fr. James Schall, SJ, from Iowa, and Fr. Stefanus Hendrianto, SJ, from Indonesia — separated by half a century, came to be such close friends is the basis for Fr. Hendrianto’s new book, “Saturdays with Father Schall: On Fatherhood, Intellectual Life, and Friendship.” Fr. Hendrianto describes it as “the Catholic version of Tuesdays with Morrie.”
In 2013, Fr. Hendrianto, at the time a Jesuit in formation teaching law and political science at Santa Clara University, met Fr. Schall, a recently retired, legendary Georgetown University professor and political philosopher. Their bond was forged by several years of Saturday visits at Sacred Heart Jesuit Center, a Jesuit retirement community in Los Gatos, California, where Fr. Schall resided.
The book, inspired by an essay Fr. Hendrianto wrote for Fr. Schall’s 90th birthday, reflects on their relationship. It explores themes of “another sort of learning,” intertwining intellectual and spiritual growth, meditations on life and death, and the vocational journey of becoming a priest. Read more.
Jesuit Inspires Character in New Detective Book Series
Fr. Harvey Egan, SJ, Boston College theology professor and expert in Christian mysticism, is the inspiration behind a new mystery novel series, “Mighty Monk Mysteries,” written by former inmate D. Ansgar Nyberg.
The books follow Fr. Ignatius Lacroix, an aging Jesuit scholar-turned-amateur detective, whose character was shaped by years of theological correspondence and mentorship between Fr. Egan and Nyberg during the latter’s time in prison. What began as spiritual guidance grew into a deep friendship and literary collaboration, resulting in a unique blend of mystery, faith and redemption. Read more.
Jesuit Completes Fourth Boston Marathon to Support Homeless
Fr. John Predmore, SJ, a chaplain at Boston College High School, ran his fourth Boston Marathon on April 21, 2025, to support those experiencing homelessness and also to honor Pope Francis who died that morning. Fr. Predmore has run the marathon since 2022 to raise money for the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program and has raised over $75,000.
He said he likes to run because there’s no competitors. “There’s only really companions on the journey. And so, when we’re running, we’re running really as a team,” he said.
“It’s fun to do, and to know that I’m doing it for a good cause,” Fr. Predmore said. “There’s so much suffering in the world, and we have to, when we see suffering, engage in it and really touch the wounds of people, and when we do that, their suffering is lessened a bit.” Read more.
Jesuit Receives Award from the University of Scranton
At the recent Arrupe Awards at the University of Scranton, the 2025 award for Distinguished Contributions to Ignatian Mission and Ministry was given to Fr. Richard Clifford, SJ, former professor and Biblical scholar at Boston College. It was presented by Fr. Joesph Marina, SJ, University president, who had once taken the course “Great Themes of the Bible,” taught by Fr. Clifford. It was captivating, creative and so inspiring, Fr. Marina said, that he still has his notebook from the class and occasionally returns to it.
Fr. Clifford’s career, spanning five decades, includes a 38-year run of teaching biblical studies from 1970 to 2008 at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge. He joined the Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry in 2008 and remains there.
Papal Blessing from a South Side Pope
David Inczauskis, SJ, a doctoral student in philosophy at Loyola University Chicago, attended Pope Leo XVI’s first Sunday blessing on his papacy on May 11, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square. Inczauskis, who like Pope Leo is from the Chicago area, sported a White Sox jersey. Inczauskis will be ordained to the priesthood in June 2025.
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Final Vows
Fr. Mark Mossa, SJ, pronounced final vows in the Society of Jesus on March 30, 2025, at Holy Name of Jesus Church in New Orleans. Fr. Mossa is an assistant professor of religious studies at Loyola University New Orleans.
Fr. Joe Laramie, SJ, pronounced final vows in the Society of Jesus on May 3, 2025, at St. Francis Xavier College Church in St. Louis. Fr. Laramie is national director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network.
