During this “Year of Consecrated Life,” Pope Francis has asked the Church to “look to the past with gratitude, to live the present with passion, and to embrace the future with hope.” 

This summer the Midwest Jesuits, and indeed Jesuits throughout the world, have had a very special opportunity to respond to the pope’s call for reflection by conducting “province congregations” in preparation for the Society of Jesus’ General Congregation, which will take place in Rome in October 2016. The Midwest Jesuits of the Chicago-Detroit and Wisconsin Provinces who were elected to attend the regional congregations gathered at Loyola University Chicago to pray, reflect, and elect delegates to attend the upcoming General Congregation. 

This international meeting will be the 36th General Congregation since the time of Saint Ignatius and will include Jesuits from every region of the world.

Delegates will also elect a new Superior General to continue the good work that Fr. Adolfo Nicolás, SJ, has accomplished in the role since 2008. The delegates will pray together and discuss important issues of our time, seeking the Spirit’s guidance on how the Society can best serve the needs of the Church and respond to urgent needs around the world.

	Jesuit Frs. Thomas Lawler, provincial of the Wisconsin Province, and Brian Paulson, provincial of the Chicago-Detroit Province, with the Most Reverend Joseph Tobin, C.Ss.R., archbishop of Indianapolis, at the ordination of eight Midwest Jesuits

As in the past, we will invite the Holy Father to address the congregation delegates. As a Jesuit, and before becoming archbishop of Buenos Aires, Pope Francis attended the Jesuits’ 32nd General Congregation in 1975 and the 33rd General Congregation in 1983. He understands from personal experience the importance of such a worldwide gathering of Jesuits and its implications for our mission. We look forward to his guidance for the future direction of our service to the universal Church. Please join us in praying for the Spirit’s guidance in the preparations for these important events in our history. 

Every summer we have a wonderful opportunity to look to the past with gratitude by honoring our Jesuits who have gone home to God and our jubilarians who continue offering their lives in service to God and God’s people. We invite you to read the reflections in this issue by some of our jubilarians celebrating 50 years in the Society. 

We also invite you to join us in embracing the future with hope by celebrating the eight Jesuits who were ordained on June 13 at Queen of All Saints Basilica in Chicago by the Most Reverend Joseph Tobin, C.Ss.R., archbishop of Indianapolis, Ind. (link). 

Finally, we invite you to enjoy the many news items and articles in this issue that show how together, with your help and prayers, we are living the present with passion. 

We continue to pray for you, and we ask for your prayers in return. 

Sincerely yours in Christ, 

	Fr. Brian G. Paulson, SJ   Provincial, Chicago-Detroit Province		Fr. Thomas A. Lawler, SJ   Provincial, Wisconsin Province

Click here for the Partners Summer 2015 Index