Province: Maryland

Birthday: May 11, 1985

Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Education:
Bachelor’s degree, theology/religious studies and counseling/human services, University of Scranton
Master’s degree, social philosophy, Loyola University Chicago
Master of Divinity, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry
Master of Theology, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry

Highlights of Jesuit Formation:
Served as a teacher and campus minister at St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia
Coordinated the 2015 “2Philly4Francis” pilgrimage, bringing together 43 Jesuit high schools to celebrate Pope Francis’ visit to Philadelphia
Ministered as a deacon at St. Brigid and Gate of Heaven Parishes in South Boston

Post-Ordination:
Will serve as parochial vicar at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Raleigh, North Carolina

Biography:
Adam Rosinski, SJ, grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the oldest of Zygmunt and Patricia Rosinski’s four children. His family was active at their local parish, St. Cecilia, and Adam was especially involved in the parish grade school, the youth group, and as an altar server. Because his mother’s cousin is also a Jesuit who spent many years in Chile, Adam heard about the Jesuits growing up, but it wasn’t until he was an undergraduate at the University of Scranton that he really came to know the Society of Jesus. There, Adam was fascinated by the Jesuits and their mission, and it was his time at Scranton that inspired him to begin to discern his own Jesuit vocation. After graduating, he worked as a high school teacher before entering the novitiate in 2009. As a novice, he spent time on the parish staff of St. Raphael Catholic Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. After the novitiate, he was missioned to study philosophy at Loyola University Chicago, where he also served as chaplain to the university’s softball team and worked with the Ignatian Spirituality Project, offering Ignatian retreats to men who are homeless and in recovery from addiction. His next mission took him back to Philadelphia for regency, where he served as a teacher and campus minister at St. Joseph’s Prep. There, he also had the privilege of coordinating the “2Philly4Francis” pilgrimage, which brought together 43 Jesuit high schools to celebrate Pope Francis’ visit to the city in 2015. In 2016, his formation took him to the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, where he earned Master of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees and served as a deacon at St. Brigid and Gate of Heaven Parishes in South Boston. Adam is excited to celebrate his first Mass of Thanksgiving at his home parish, St. Cecilia. (Maryland Province) 

What was one particularly meaningful experience you had during your formation, and why was it meaningful to you?
I served as the coordinator for "2Philly4Francis" during my regency. This was a pilgrimage that brought together students from 43 Jesuit high schools from across the Assistancy to celebrate Pope Francis' visitation to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families. There were so many meaningful parts to this experience: four days spent with 450 Jesuit high school students from so many different places on fire with their faith; being and praying with the pope; and watching my student leaders take on and run this huge program almost by themselves, just to name a few!

But the most meaningful parts lie before and after the actual event. Our campus ministry staff discerned this, really prayed and listened and discerned as a team, and it became undeniably clear to us that offering a program like this is what the Spirit was inviting us to. The consolation that came from the discernment was one of joyful certainty, which was never shaken even in the face of so many unknowns that inevitably come with an event of this size. Likewise, in the years since the pilgrimage ended, I’ve heard from so many students, chaperones and school administrators who have shared with me some of the wonderful fruits that have come from their experience and how these fruits have transformed not only the individual pilgrims, but even their larger school communities.

Adam being interviewed by "The Today Show" about his role organizing "2Philly4Francis," a pilgrimage that brought together 450 students from 43 Jesuit high schools to celebrate Pope Francis' visit to Philadelphia.

What’s one thing about life in the Society of Jesus other people might not realize?
From time to time, someone will say to me, "Oh, you Jesuits are the really intellectual ones. You must have such fascinating dinner table conversations!" On the one hand, I'd respond by saying, "You know, you're right, sometimes we really do!" But I also think many folks might not realize that often, our conversations are no different from those of any group of people trying to live together in charity: "Who moved the New York Times?!", "Can someone show me again how to work the Netflix?", "The coffee was way too strong this morning! Did you put in 6 scoops or 7?", or "The Patriots in another Super Bowl? Not again!"

Despite the various challenges that arise in community life, I hope people realize that, above all, it is actually a lot of fun and a wonderful gift!

What is your favorite book, movie, music, or TV show you’ve encountered since entering the Society and why do you love it?
As usual, it's tough to choose only one! A brother Jesuit once suggested Michael Pollan's "Cooked," which is near the top of my list right now. It's a book about food, or more specifically, a book about cooking — two things I love. Pollan wants to get people back into the kitchen and cooking again, something he says that we’re losing in our modern societies. It's also a very Eucharistic book! He describes the transformation that happens in cooking: Simple ingredients are transformed into a nourishing meal, not unlike what happens during the Mass.

Adam preaches the homily at the family Mass as a deacon at St. Brigid Parish in South Boston.

What’s one interesting fact about yourself not everyone would know?
I once called a suicide squeeze play. During my regency I served as an assistant baseball coach for the freshman team at St. Joe's Prep. There was one game the other coaches couldn't make, so I had the team all to myself. We were down 12-11 (after initially being down 11-3), and with runners at first and third with nobody out, I put the squeeze on. The boys executed it perfectly, and we scored on the play, capping off a 9-run comeback! We ended up winning the game 13-12.