How do I know God is calling me?

Joining the Jesuits

If you think God might be calling you to be a Jesuit priest or brother, or if you just want to learn more about the Jesuits, you've landed at the right place. Here you'll find information, support, and resources for your discernment process. Please visit often because the content and resources will change regularly.

Who are we?

Founded in 1540 by St. Ignatius of Loyola and commonly called the Jesuits, the Society of Jesus is the largest religious order of men in the Catholic Church. Serving in 112 nations on 6 continents, we number nearly 20,000 priests, brothers, and seminarians worldwide, all of whom observe vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

Men who are called to the Society of Jesus desire to be "contemplatives in action" - combining faith and the promotion of justice. After two years as a novice, a Jesuit pronounces his solemn vows and engages in six years of philosophy and theology studies. He also engages in teaching ministry for three years. Most Jesuits receive priestly ordination after the 11 year training, but others also serve as brothers in a variety of ministries.

Jesuits are best known in the fields of education (schools, colleges, universities, seminaries, theological faculties), intellectual research, and cultural pursuits. They also engage in missionary work and direct evangelization to the poor, social justice and human rights activities, interreligious dialogue, and other 'frontier' ministries. Most importantly, Jesuits continue the tradition of providing Christian retreats, based on the foundational document of Ignatius: The Spiritual Exercises. Jesuits are inspired by their motto: All for the greater glory of God.

Learn more by visiting one of our Province's vocation websites!

Process of Jesuit Vocation Discernment

How do I know God is calling me to religious life?

Discernment is a word that describes the process of coming to understand how the Lord is calling me and inviting me to serve Him. It is a spiritual and personal journey. It is a journey of understanding, of seeing, and acting. The necessary ingredients for discerning a vocation from the Lord are trust, patience, faith, and prayer. These four elements will be constantly challenged during your journey, and will need to be renewed daily.

Ask the Lord for these gifts of the Spirit as you move through the process.

7 Stages of Vocation Discernment:

1. Attraction or Interest ...to serving God

2. Inquiry...taking the initiative

3. Information Gathering ... being pro-active

4. Discernment ... understanding the experience

5. Confirmation ... moving toward a decision

6. Application Process ... submitting the application

7. Entrance ... if accepted, becoming a Jesuit Novice