October 2, 2025 鈥� Here鈥檚 the latest news from the 蜜桃视频 in Canada and the United States.
Nine 蜜桃视频 Ordained to the Diaconate
Nine 蜜桃视频, including six from the U.S., were ordained to the diaconate at St. Ignatius Church in Boston College on September 20, 2025: Christopher Brolly, SJ; Cyrille Causse, SJ; Andrew Cera, SJ; Bryan Galligan, SJ; Daniel Mascarenhas, SJ; Matthew Bede Pinson, SJ; Conan Rainwater, SJ; Josef Rodriguez, SJ; and Victor Yanez Valle, SJ.
Pope Leo Meets with Fr. James Martin, SJ
Pope Leo XIV received Fr. James Martin, SJ, editor at large of America magazine, in a private audience in the papal library of the Vatican鈥檚 Apostolic Palace on September 1, 2025.
Dear friends: I was profoundly grateful for my audience at the Apostolic Palace with the Holy Father this morning. The message I received was that Pope Leo will be continuing with the same openness and that Francis showed to LGBTQ Catholics. I found Leo to be joyful,鈥�
鈥� James Martin, SJ (@JamesMartinSJ)
鈥淚 am extremely grateful and deeply consoled by my meeting with the Holy Father. He encouraged me to continue my ministry [to LGBTQ Catholics],鈥� Fr. Martin said after the audience. 鈥淧ope Leo has the same openness to LGBTQ issues as Pope Francis had. He made clear that he wants everyone to feel welcome,鈥� he added.
Milestones & Honors
Br. John Fava, SJ, recently retired from serving as the St. Louis Metropolitan police chaplain for 22 years; he previous served for 22 years as police chaplain for the Denver Police Department. Before retiring, he was honored with the Order of St. Louis the King at the Blue Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis on September 7, 2025. It is the highest honor bestowed by the Archdiocese of St. Louis, recognizing individuals who have demonstrated exceptional and consistent service to the church.
鈥淐haplain Fava has been a steady source of strength and encouragement to our department for more than two decades,鈥� said SLMPD Chief Robert J. Tracy. 鈥淲e are grateful for his service, his faith and his unwavering commitment to our officers and community.鈥�
Fr. Jack Podsiadlo, SJ, who served as chaplain at McQuaid Jesuit High School in Rochester, New York, celebrated his final Mass at the school in September. The chapel was filled with students, faculty, administration, board members, priests and lay colleagues to pray with Fr. Podsiadlo and thank him for his service to McQuaid. After Mass, the full assembly formed an honor guard from the chapel to the front door as they applauded him.
Fr. Fred Zagone, SJ, university advancement chaplain at聽Marquette University, was recently honored with a room named for him in Zilber Hall, the main administration building at Marquette. Inspired by Fr. Zagone鈥檚 leadership, the community space in Zilber Hall aims to foster connection and faithful collaboration among advancement professionals on campus.
Jesuit Artists鈥� Installations
Sacred Art Installed in Rockhurst University鈥檚 Chapel
Four depictions of the Madonna by Fr. Arturo Araujo, SJ, were recently unveiled on the west wall of Rockhurst University鈥檚 new Mabee Chapel. Fr. Araujo is an associate professor of visual arts at Seattle University. The chapel was formally dedicated with a Mass and blessing on September 27, 2025.
Bishop James Johnston, of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, said in his homily during the Mass that Fr. Araujo鈥檚 depictions are wholly in keeping with the spirit of the chapel and the university. Recalling the Gospel for the service, Bishop Johnston said Mary鈥檚 willingness to serve God is echoed in the Jesuit motto, 鈥�ad majorem Dei gloriam,鈥� and in the Magnificat, the prayer derived from Mary鈥檚 words in the Gospel of Luke upon meeting her cousin Elizabeth.
New Sculpture Dedicated in Tacoma
In Tacoma, parishioners at Pope St. John XXIII Parish recently commemorated the church鈥檚 centennial by unveiling a new statue honoring the parish鈥檚 namesake. The six-foot-tall bronze statue of the pontiff was designed and sculpted by Fr. Trung Pham, SJ, an associate professor and chair of art, art history and design at Seattle University.
It took six months for Fr. Pham and two student artists to sculpt the statue. Each part of the statue has meaning, he said. According to Fr. Pham, the statue鈥檚 posture of leaning forward into the wind gives trust and readiness to respond to the call of the Holy Spirit; the flowing cape symbolizes the Holy Spirit actively moving within the church and guiding it into a new era; and the head is gently tilted with a warm, tender smile, an invitation from the heart.
The Last 蜜桃视频 in Alaska
KYUK AM, the public radio station that serves the rural Alaskan communities of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, recently published a four-part series called 鈥�.鈥� The series examined the 蜜桃视频鈥� long history in Alaska, which will conclude next summer when pastoral care for the villages of the Delta region is turned over to the Diocese of Fairbanks. The last three 蜜桃视频 currently serving in Alaska 鈥� Fr. Tom Provinsal, SJ, Fr. Rich Magner, SJ, and Fr. Gregg Wood 鈥� are all profiled.
Fr. Wood reflected on building relationships in the community. 鈥淎t Hooper Bay it takes about 10 minutes to walk from the church to the post office. I never made that trip in 10 minutes because I would never pass a person by. I would at least stop, say hi,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat might develop into a 15-minute conversation. 鈥� That piece, the relationship to persons in the community as it happens and as it develops, in my mind, that’s bigger than what happens inside the church.鈥�
Vocation News
New Vocation Website
The 蜜桃视频 of Canada and the United States launched a new vocations website in September. Whether you are discerning a call to the Society of Jesus, know someone who is or just love all things Jesuit, we encourage you to check out the new and improved .
House of Discernment Opens in Houston
The 蜜桃视频 USA Central and Southern Province has opened a new house of discernment for men considering a vocation to the Society of Jesus. Located in Houston, the Miguel Pro Discernment House provides a space for serious candidates to discern whether God is calling them to religious life.
Members of the discernment house community will have the opportunity to experience communal and apostolic life, with some spiritual formation.聽A member of the province鈥檚 vocation team will continue to accompany them, and they will visit other 蜜桃视频 living and serving in Houston.
鈥淛ava with 蜜桃视频鈥� Launches at Loyola Marymount University
鈥淛ava with 蜜桃视频鈥� is a new monthly tradition at Loyola Marymount University (LMU), focused on bringing student and Jesuit life together. 鈥淎 phrase we use a lot in formation is ministry of presence, and I think it鈥檚 just being there with students and being available if they need to talk,鈥� said Nick Russell, SJ, one of Java’s sponsors.
Though new to LMU this academic year, several other Jesuit universities host Java with the 蜜桃视频, including Saint Louis University and Loyola University Chicago.
鈥淭here鈥檚 probably a good amount of students who don鈥檛 know we鈥檙e a resource. Being here [at Java with 蜜桃视频] provides an opportunity to say we who are 鈥� and just be more available,鈥� Russell said.
Jesuit Jubilarians
Jubilee Masses were recently held at Boston College High School (pictured above) and Fordham University Church (pictured below) for jubilarians from 蜜桃视频 USA East. Many family, friends and fellow 蜜桃视频 attended to celebrate with the 蜜桃视频 celebrating a Jubilee year in the Society of Jesus or the priesthood.
Final Vows
Fr. Frank Buckley, SJ, pronounced his final vows in the Society of Jesus on August 4, 2025, at Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, where he serves as a clinical psychologist.
Fr. Val猫re Nkouaya, SJ, professed final vows in the Society of Jesus on September 9, 2025, at Holy Canadian Martyrs Church in Ottawa. He is a professor of canon law and vice dean and director of studies of Saint Paul University in Ottawa.
