Dear Friends,

When Saint Ignatius and his brother Jesuits named their fledgling religious order the Compañía de Jesús, they did not simply announce that their efforts would be directed toward serving Christ. They also signaled the relationship they would have to the world. For Jesuits, the word Compañía — or Society — points to our mission to be companions alongside the people we serve, particularly those in the greatest need.

Accompanying others involves sharing in their experiences. As the Chicago-Detroit and Wisconsin Provinces work toward the creation of a new province, we have had many opportunities to walk together, exploring the rich history and traditions within our region and beyond. This spring, we visited Jesuits in Kohima, with whom the Wisconsin Province has had a long and fruitful partnership.

Fr. Brian Paulson, SJ, and Fr. Thomas Lawler, SJ, at a memorial marker for Fr. Rutilio Grande, SJ, who was assassinated by a Salvadoran death squad in 1977

We also traveled to El Salvador for a joint meeting between the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States and the Conferencia de Provinciales Jesuitas de América Latina (CPAL). There, we discussed common goals of Jesuits throughout the Americas, while also visiting historic locations, such as the site of Jesuit Fr. Rutilio Grande’s murder. This was a poignant reminder of the tremendous sacrifices many make in witnessing to a faith that does justice for the least among us.

In October, we will join Jesuits from all over the world for the Society of Jesus’ 36th General Congregation in Rome, where we will elect a new Superior General to continue Fr. Adolfo Nicolás’s work guiding our global Jesuit community.

A sense of companionship also strikes closer to home. This summer, Fr. Vincent Strand, SJ, was ordained to the priesthood at Church of the Gesu in Milwaukee. Like his Jesuit brothers, Fr. Strand’s family — which includes two brothers who are diocesan priests — shaped his vocation and will continue to support his service to his community. Reflections from Jesuit jubilarians celebrating 50 years in the Society offer a beautiful glimpse of a lifetime of such service.

We invite you to enjoy the many news items and articles in this issue, and we thank you for your prayers and work on behalf of our shared community.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

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Click here for the Summer 2016 Jesuits magazine index.