Posted: August 21

Forty years ago, I took the first step

I feel a bit nostalgic today, or perhaps just amazed. But on this day 40 years ago I entered the Jesuit novitiate at Florissant, Missouri. Actually, I feel proud to have made it this far, no mean feat given all that has happened in the world and in the church. And no mean feat given my own weakness and foibles.

It is not as hot here in Rome today as I remember Florissant in mid-August. That was the first time I had ever taken an airplane, which I remember mostly as incredibly noisy (it was one of the early turbo-prop planes), and then I was met at the airport by the minister who take me to an old car whose door handle fell off when I tried to get in. I chose not to regard that as an omen, and continued on my way to the novitiate. I remember being shocked at the humid heat, and then surprised when I met the second year novices who were much cooler than I expected. I don't really remember much of those first days in the Society, except for lying down in my bed the first night at 9:00 p.m. and hearing children still playing at a pool somewhere when we were supposed to be asleep.

I was thinking today, that I never would have predicted back then the way things have worked out. I had lunch today with Father General, just a regular thing during the summer when he doesn't have visitors for lunch and eats with the community. I mentioned the fact that I entered forty years ago and he was appropriately congratulatory. A big part of the table conversation had to do with Zimbabwe from where I have just returned after giving a week-long workshop to the scholastics at Arrupe College. I know more about airplanes and air travel now than I ever thought I would back then. And I know a lot more about the Society of Jesus than I could have predicted all those years ago. It has been a long ride, but a good one; and it is not over yet.