“A healthy Jesuit community is deeply rooted in authenticity and integrity. It practices what it preaches, embodying the principles of love, service and humility. Members are united despite their differences by our shared vocation as companions of Jesus and through our shared commitment to living out their faith in tangible, public ways, from supporting those in need to advocating for justice and peace.”
Will serve on the faculty at Marquette University High School in Milwaukee.
Born in Chicago, Jim Kennedy, SJ, studied history at the University of Michigan, where he first encountered the Jesuits at St. Mary Student Parish. Meeting the Jesuits at St. Mary’s and studying the history of St. Jean de Brebeuf and his companions inspired him to contact the Jesuit vocation team. Jim entered the Jesuit novitiate in St. Paul, Minnesota, in the summer of 2014, completing the long retreat at Ignatius Jesuit Centre in Guelph, Ontario, in 2015 and serving at Creighton Prep in Omaha, Nebraska, during his long experiment.
After a summer spent in Lima, Peru, Jim professed first vows at Saint Thomas More Church in St. Paul before embarking for philosophy studies at Fordham University in the Bronx, New York. While completing his philosophy studies, Jim also served at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, a local Catholic school near the Jesuit formation community in the Bronx. At Our Lady of Mount Carmel, he helped teach religion classes and tutored students in math and writing. Jim then moved to Milwaukee for regency at Marquette University High School, where he taught social studies and theology and helped with campus ministry, including developing Ignatian spirituality programs and material for faculty and staff. In 2022, Jim moved to Toronto, Ontario, to complete a Master of Divinity degree at Regis College, a member college of the Toronto School of Theology at the University of Toronto (U of T). During that time, he also served at St. Peter’s Parish and the U of T Newman Centre as a deacon. After ordination, Jim will serve on the faculty at Marquette University High.
Bachelor’s degree, history, University of Michigan; Master’s degree, social sciences, University of Chicago; Master’s degree, philosophical resources, Fordham University; Master of Divinity, Regis College, University of Toronto
Different saints serve as our companions at different times of our lives and, like naming our favorite movie, it is difficult to name one particular saint who can be called a favorite. However, one saint who has become very important to me is John Henry Newman. Towards the end of my philosophy studies, I began to read Newman for my final paper and found myself inspired by his life, his thought and his path of holiness.
His theology is one of the first responses to the challenges posed to faith by the onset of modernity and the Enlightenment, taking seriously the challenge to faith posed by the onset of modernity and the Enlightenment that engages from a sympathetic perspective. While drawing heavily on Scripture and the writings of the Church Fathers, Newman managed to articulate a faithful and compelling response to the skepticism of the 19th century. Although he wrote for a different age with different questions, his writings are a model for us of serious Christian thought engaging with the various contexts we inhabit.
Yet his profound theological reflections and writings never pulled him away from pastoral work: Before he converted to Catholicism, he devoted his life to pastoral work in Oxford, and, after he became Catholic, he founded an oratory and a school in Birmingham, England, to serve the mostly Irish working-class population. I’ve always been amazed that one of the greatest theologians of the past 200 years spent most of his priesthood serving the pastoral needs of the working poor and teaching Latin and Greek to children! Even after he was made a cardinal by Pope Leo XIII, Newman continued to faithfully serve his parishioners in Birmingham, spending hours in the confessional even in the last decades of his life.
I am inspired by the emergence of the schools in the first decades of the Society. From the first school established in Sicily in 1547 until the death of Ignatius in 1556, almost 30 schools were founded. Within a few decades, hundreds of Jesuit colleges were established in Europe and around the world.
The schools inspire me for a number of reasons. First, the early Jesuits brought with them an innovative system of teaching and pedagogy from their own studies at university that still inspires Jesuit schools today. Even though much has changed since the first Jesuits studied at the University of Paris, we still follow in their footsteps at Jesuit high schools and colleges around the globe.
Second, I’m inspired by the flexibility and practicality that allowed the Jesuits to see a wonderful opportunity in the schools: The first Jesuit colleges were mostly residences for Jesuit scholastics studying philosophy and theology at nearby universities. The first courses taught were Jesuits teaching other Jesuits, but their teaching was so popular that soon other students wanted to study with them as well. While initially skeptical, St. Ignatius soon realized that benefactors would support Jesuit colleges if the schools would teach their children as well. In a short time, most of the students were non-Jesuits and a whole new field of apostolic work opened up for the first Jesuits. I have always admired their willingness to adapt to a new opportunity.
Fr. Rick Abert, SJ, was my superior during my regency at Marquette University High School in Milwaukee. He was a guiding light, combining sincerity, integrity and authenticity, which helped me grow in confidence during my three years of regency. Fr. Rick offered unwavering support as I began my journey as a teacher. His sincerity and care were evident in every interaction — taking a genuine interest in my challenges and successes, he created a safe space where I felt valued and heard.
As an exceptional listener, he possessed the rare ability to fully engage, giving his undivided attention and responding thoughtfully to my concerns. His attentiveness allowed him to provide advice that was both practical and deeply relevant to my unique experiences. He never imposed solutions but guided me to discover my own strengths and strategies.
His integrity and authenticity were a cornerstone of our relationship. He modeled ethical behavior, showing me the importance of honesty, fairness and staying true to our Jesuit way of proceeding. His example taught me not just how to serve effectively at the school but how to be a good Jesuit in many other contexts.
Through his encouragement and wisdom, I gained the confidence to navigate the complexities of teaching and ministry, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when we experienced so much disruption and needed to shift our ministries from in person to online. Fr. Rick gave great support and encouragement during that time, and I remain grateful for his friendship.
To me, a good Jesuit community has to be a nurturing space where faith, compassion and mutual support thrive. It is characterized by genuine inclusivity, welcoming individuals from all walks of life and valuing the unique perspectives each person brings. Such a community serves as a sanctuary where people feel safe to express their beliefs, wrestle with questions of faith and grow spiritually without fear of judgment so that we can together grow into more available ministers and companions for God’s people.
At its core, a healthy Jesuit community is deeply rooted in authenticity and integrity. It practices what it preaches, embodying the principles of love, service and humility. Members are united despite their differences by our shared vocation as companions of Jesus and through our shared commitment to living out their faith in tangible, public ways, from supporting those in need to advocating for justice and peace.
Respectful dialogue and active listening are hallmarks of Jesuit community, creating an environment where differences are acknowledged and embraced as opportunities for learning rather than sources of division. Leadership is transparent and accountable, fostering trust and collaboration.
Above all, a good Jesuit community provides both challenge and comfort. It encourages personal and collective growth, inspiring members to live out their values in the world. At the same time, it offers solace in times of hardship, reminding individuals they are never alone on their journey of faith.
