Midwest Jesuits | Chicago-Detroit Province

It is with great gratitude and joy that the Midwest Jesuits welcome Francis, the First Jesuit Pope.

In a statement, V. Rev. Timothy P. Kesicki, S.J., Provincial of the Chicago-Detroit Jesuits, reflects upon the Election of Francis as Bishop of Rome and Holy Father (read more).

Fr. General P. Adolfo Nicolás S.J. issued a statement on the election of Pope Francis (Read More)

Jesuit Fr. General Adolfo Nicolás Recounts His First Visit with Pope Francis (read more).

In a letter to Jesuit Fr. General Adolfo Nicolás, the Holy Father asks for prayers, offers blessings to the Jesuits and to all those who cooperate with the Society of Jesus in her activities, those who benefit from her good deeds, and those who participate in her spirituality. (read more ).

Photo: Newly-elected Pope Francis, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, waves after praying at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome March 14. (CNS photo/Alessandro Bianchi, Reuters) (March 14, 2013).

Date Posted: April 8, 2013
Job Title: Religious Studies Teacher
Description: Click the link for PDF of the Position Announcement – Religious Studies Teacher – Brebeuf Jesuit
Contact: Send resume and cover letter to:

Shannon Buelt
Religious Studies Department Chair
Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School
2801 W. 86^th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46268
Email: sbuelt@brebeuf.org
Website: www.brebeuf.org

Fr. Richard Cherry, SJ

Fr. Richard W. Cherry, SJ
April 3, 1937, to
April 2, 2013

Father Richard W. Cherry, SJ (AOR), who served as a Jesuit missionary to the people of Eastern Africa, died on Tuesday, April 2, 2013, at the Colombiere Center in Clarkston, Michigan. Born to parents Richard and Rose Marie (Wilkie) Cherry on April 3, 1937, he was raised in Toledo, Ohio, until joining the Society of Jesus at the Sacred Heart Novitiate in Milford, Ohio, in 1955. “I would label Dick a man of deep faith, absolutely committed to using his teaching skill to improve the lives of the poor,” said Fr. Norm Dickson, SJ, a coworker of Fr. Cherry’s at the Loyola Secondary School in Wau in the mid-80s. “His dedication to those who populated his classrooms was absolute.”

As a Jesuit, Fr. Cherry earned a BA in Latin, a PhL in Philosophy, a ThL in Theology, and an MA in both Mathematics and Physics. With a view to his working as a missionary in India, Fr. Cherry was assigned to study Theology at the Papal Athenaeum in Poona, India, (1966-1970) and was ordained in Patna on March 18, 1969. He subsequently taught science at various Jesuit high schools in the Patna Province including New Delhi (1970-72), Jaipur (1974-82), and Patna (1982-85).

Fr. Cherry would spend the next 43 years assigned as a teacher in Eastern Africa. In 1985, Fr. Cherry began teaching at Loyola Secondary School in Wau, Sudan, (in its first incarnation) where he taught until Loyola had to be closed in 1987 due to the civil war. He continued to teach in Wau, usually as the only Jesuit there, at St. Mary’s Senior Secondary Seminary and at John Paul II Intermediate School.

His work as a missionary eventually relocated him to Adjumani to work as Assistant Project Director for the Jesuit Refugee Service (1992-1994). He moved to Dar es Salaam and taught science at Loyola Secondary School (1995-2006) and also served as Superior of the Jesuit Community (2000-2004). “As a superior, he was very kind to me when I first arrived in Dar es Salaam,” explained Fr. Maria Wenish, SJ, of the Madurai Province. He was a simple, quite man, who always enjoyed a ‘safari evening.’” Father Cherry returned to Wau in 2006 to be involved with preparing for the reopening of Loyola Secondary School. He was assigned to serve as Acting Superior (2006-2007) and then teacher when the school reopened in 2008. In 2012, Fr. Cherry was missioned to supervise the laboratories and teach at St. Peter Claver Secondary School in Dodoma, but fell sick before he was able to take this mission. He went to Colombiere Center in Clarkston, Michigan, to deal with health needs until his death on April 2, 2013.

“Father Cherry was most admirable in his 100% dedication to whom and for what he was—a full-time Jesuit,” said Fr. Bernard Mallia, SJ, a longtime friend and coworker at Loyola Secondary School. “He was a truly good and quiet companion whose presence spoke more than words could speak. I am sure he is enjoying life in heaven to the hilt!”

Memorial gifts:
Memorial gifts may be made to The Jesuits, 2050 N. Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois 60614.
To make an online contribution, click here.

We share a special message of the Holy Father to Fr. General

P. Adolfo Nicolás S.J., Superior General of the Society of Jesus, and Pope Francis (Photo: L’Osservatore Romano)

I received with great joy the kind letter you sent me, in your name and that of the Society of Jesus, on the occasion of my election to the See of Peter, in which you assure me of your prayers for me and my apostolic ministry as well as your full disposition to continue serving – unconditionally – the Church and the Vicar of Christ according to the teachings of St. Ignatius Loyola.

My heartfelt thanks for this sign of affection and closeness, which I am happy to reciprocate, asking the Lord to illuminate and accompany all Jesuits, so that faithful to the charism received and following in the footsteps of the saints of our beloved Order, they may be evangelical leaven in the world in their pastoral action, but above all in the witness of a life totally dedicated to the service of the Church, the Spouse of Christ, seeking unceasingly the glory of God and the good of souls.

With these sentiments, I ask all Jesuits to pray for me and to entrust me to the loving protection of the Virgin Mary, our Mother in heaven, while as a sign of God’s abundant graces, I give you the Apostolic Blessing with special affection, which I also extend to all those who cooperate with the Society of Jesus in her activities, those who benefit from her good deeds and participate in her spirituality.

Francis
Vatican, 16 March 2013

Fr. General P. Adolfo Nicolás S.J. issued a statement on the election of Pope Francis (Read More)

Jesuit Fr. General Adolfo Nicolás Recounted His First Visit with Pope Francis (Read More)

Date Posted: March 18, 2013
Job Title: Assistant Director of Campus Ministry
Description:  Click the link for PDF of the Job Description – Assistant Director of Campus Ministry
Contact:  Send resume and cover letter to:

Fr. Michael Christiana, SJ
VP of Mission and Identity
Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School
2801 W. 86^th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46268
Email: mchristiana@brebeuf.org
Website: www.brebeuf.org

Pope Francis’ Coat of Arms remains the same as what he chose when appointed as an auxiliary of Buenos Aires in 1992: the sun marked with the Holy Name of Jesus, the historic symbol of his Jesuit community; a star for the Madonna, and a “nard flower” representing St Joseph, on whose feast he’ll liturgically launch his ministry as Roman pontiff. The background is blue – the color traditionally affiliated with Mary – reflecting Francis’ intense devotion to her. The Pope’s motto – Miserando atque eligendo: “Lowly and yet chosen” – likewise remains the same, and the striped miter introduced by Pope Benedict XVI to replace the tiara has been retained. Source: http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/

P. Adolfo Nicolás S.J., Superior General of the Society of Jesus, greets Pope Francis (Photo: L’Osservatore Romano)

At the personal invitation of the Pope Francis I went to the Santa Marta House, that had been used for the Cardinals present at the Conclave at 5:30 p.m. He was at the entrance and received me with the usual Jesuit embrace. We had a few pictures taken, at his request, and at my apologies for not keeping protocol he insisted that I treat him like any other Jesuit at the “Tu” level, so I did not have to worry about addressing him as “Your Holiness,” or “Holy Father.”

I offered him all our Jesuit resources because in his new position he is going to need counsel, thinking, persons, etc. He showed gratitude for this and at the invitation to visit us for lunch at the Curia he said he would oblige.

There was full commonality of feeling on several issues that we discussed and I remained with the conviction that we will work very well together for the service of the Church in the name of the Gospel.

There was calm, humor and mutual understanding about past, present and future. I left  the Casa de Santa Marta convinced that the Pope will gladly count on our collaboration in the vineyard of the Lord. At the end he helped me with my coat and accompanied me to the door. That added a couple of salutes to me from the Swiss Guards there.  A Jesuit embrace, once again, as the natural way to greet and send off a friend.

Statement of V. Rev. Timothy P. Kesicki, S.J. (bio) (photo)
Chicago-Detroit Provincial of the Society of Jesus
Upon the Election of Francis I as Bishop of Rome and Holy Father
March 13, 2013

Chicago, March 13, 2013

With great joy we praise God for entrusting His servant, Francis I, as the 265^th successor to St. Peter.  The Society of Jesus in the Chicago-Detroit Province welcomes the first Jesuit pope with great pride and with even greater humility.

This son of St. Ignatius Loyola, who has so faithfully served the Society of Jesus and the Church of Argentina, now serves the entire Church as our Holy Father.  In his first public appearance on the Loggia of Blessings at St. Peter Square he bowed his head to receive the prayers of the faithful of Rome.  We call upon all Jesuits, colleagues, friends and people of faith to pray for our Holy Father.

It is only fitting in this holy season of Lent that we commit ourselves to St. Ignatius Loyola’s Prayer for Generosity:

Lord, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve You as You deserve;
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labor and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that I am doing your will.