Birmingham: Jesuit novices take first vows

Four Jesuit novices took their first vows at St Mary's Church, Harborne, Birmingham on Saturday. The novices have spent two years in formation at the Novice House in Birmingham which looks after novices from North West Europe. Taking vows were two novices from Lithuania - Mantas MilerisSJ and Aurimas Sukys SJ, as well as Bastiaan van Rooije SJ from the Netherlands and Richard Webster SJ from the UK. Mark Logtenberg SJ, also from the Netherlands, will take his First Vows on 17th September in New York where he has gone to begin his theology studies at Fordham Jesuit University.

Presiding at the Mass was Fr Provincial Dermot Preston. Gintaras Vitkus (Provincial of Lithuania), Tom Layden (Provincial of Ireland), Johan Verschueren (Provincial of Flanders and the Netherlands), were concelebrating with Brendan Callaghan and Kevin O'Rourke (Novice Masters).

In his Homily Fr Johan reflected on the readings chosen by the four voventes (Jesuit jargon for those taking their first vows). He pointed out in particular the words of St Paul (Philippians 3:8-14): "I count everything sheer loss, for the sake of gaining Christ and finding myself incorporate in him, with no righteousness of my own" which map the horizon for the voventes' desired future lives.

Remembering the words of his Provincial on his own Vow Day Fr Johan, considered what it was to be a "good" Jesuit, concluding that it is necessary to take risks, in the knowledge that "that everything they are and do comes from God and is worked out together with Him. A "good" Jesuit is a Jesuit who constantly listens, and looks for the Lord in action, contemplativus in actione."

He finished by looking at how these precepts are reflected in the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Rather than internalize the vows he reminded the voventes that the vows are only meaningful through intimate relationship with God as an expression of faith - in a caring God; hope - that we can find our destination in God; and love - our answer to the love of God who sets our life on fire.

During Communion the first and second year novices sang the beautiful Ame du Christ by Joseph Gelineau SJ.

After the Mass the novitiate community hosted a party for the novices, their families, and friends and the many Jesuits from around North West Europe who had travelled to witness the occasion.

Please pray for Mantas, Aurimas, Bastiaan, Mark and Richard as they begin the next stage of their formation as Jesuit scholastics, and for the six new novices as they begin their Jesuit journey.

Source: Jesuit Communications