Entering the Jesuits

By the end of senior year in 1951 six of us out of twenty-five in home room 4-A had applied to the Jesuits. The Sodality, school retreats, and the example of the Jesuit teachers were contributing factors. I was not drawn to the diocesan clergy, because I considered rectory life (often under a strict pastor) to be uninviting, and I wanted to teach.

Move to Toronto

In the spring of 1985, while I was visiting professor at Rome's Oriental Institute, I received an invitation to apply for the position as dean at one of the Catholic colleges (St. Michael's) in the University of Toronto. I was fifty-two at the time and hadn't considered going into administration. But, given the reputation of the college, the fact I knew personally many of its faculty members, and that I could still continue to do some teaching, I applied for the position and was chosen. I held the position for ten years.

Working at Boston College

I serve as adjunct research professor of theology, a part-time involvement, mostly with graduate students. I also have a number of writing projects that keep me busy. I continue my activities with the Catholic Theological Society of America (CTSA) and the American Theological Society. I served as president of both societies. I also co-sponsor an international project on "Ecclesiological Investigations" for the American Academy of Religion. I was honored to receive the CTSA's John Courtney Murray Award for achievement in theology in 2003. Also a group of my long-time colleagues published a Festschrift for me, entitled In God's Hands: Essays on the Church and Ecumenism.

Looking Ahead

Since I entered the Society in 1951, I have lived for lengthy periods of time in nine different Jesuit provinces. There is considerable vitality and diversity in our apostolates and ministries. However, I think that our Jesuit numbers will continue to decrease dramatically. We will see a handing on of our Ignatian values and priorities to our lay Catholic and ecumenical colleagues. This I see not as defeat but as success in empowering the faithful and lessening clericalism and triumphalism. I agree with those who see our decreasing and the laity's increasing as a positive sign of aggiornamento.