“I love the missionary aspect of the Society of Jesus and the fact that it is globally diverse with its members.”
Will do a year of pastoral ministry in Micronesia.
Dickson Tiwelfil, SJ, was born and raised on Wottegai Woleai, a small island of Yap State in the Federated States of Micronesia, by his loving and caring parents and relatives. He is the third oldest among his seven living siblings. Dickson was baptized by the late Fr. John Hagileiram, SJ, who was the first Jesuit priest from the outer islands of Yap. Fr. Hagileiram became an inspiration to Dickson because of his creativity and style in both the content and the delivery of his homilies. During Dickson’s freshman year of high school, another newly ordained Jesuit priest from Satawal Island, the late Fr. Kenneth Urumolug, SJ, came to do his pastoral year on Woleai. Fr. Urumolug became the second Jesuit from the outer islands of Yap who, along with Fr. Hagileiram, made a great impact on Dickson’s consideration for priesthood throughout his high school years until college when Dickson finally made up his mind to apply for the Society of Jesus after graduation.
After taking first vows in Syracuse, New York, Dickson completed his philosophy studies at Saint Louis University. He spent three years of regency teaching Micronesian history to freshmen and Christology to sophomores at Xavier High School (XHS) in Chuuk, Micronesia. He also served as both a dean of discipline for two years and a campus minister for the rest of his time at XHS.
For theology studies, Dickson attended the Loyola School of Theology in Manila, Philippines. While completing both his Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology and Master in Pastoral Ministry, Dickson served at various apostolates: vocation promotion for the Philippines Province Jesuits; campus ministry at Ateneo de Manila University; and pastoral ministry at Philippine General Hospital and other hospitals. After ordination, he will do a pastoral year in Micronesia.
Bachelor’s degree, elementary education, University of Guam; Philosophy for Ministry Certificate, Saint Louis University; Master’s degree, pastoral ministry, Ateneo de Manila University; Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology, Loyola School of Theology
I composed a few songs in Woleaian, my native language, which is one of the languages spoken in Yap, Micronesia, when I was a catechist for my island parish church before entering the Society of Jesus.
What is one hobby you’ve cultivated as a Jesuit, and why is it important to you?
Hosting both online and on-site spiritual conversations or faith sharing groups with students, families, friends and parishioners. This is important because it helps people to grow in their spiritual or faith life.
I love the missionary aspect of the Society of Jesus and the fact that it is globally diverse with its members.
Fr. David Andrus, SJ, is the Jesuit who accompanied me since the beginning of my discernment with the Society. It started when I met him for confession as a college student, and I mentioned to him that I had a desire for priesthood since childhood. He immediately asked if I wished to meet with him after confession to talk about it. I agreed. After that, we met once a week to talk about my spiritual journey. Fr. Dave is a very simple and humble individual, which is one of the reasons I respect and admire him.
As a mentor or spiritual director, he is a very good listener. Hence, he always correctly gives the right responses to the directee in spiritual conversation/direction. In other words, his responses in spiritual direction are always correct, that is, they match/address the directee’s issues or struggles. Simply put, he provides good responses to his directee. Moreover, he also loves and cares for his directee. He is not afraid to correct his directee with strong opinions or viewpoints. Thus, these are what made him a very good spiritual director/mentor.
