Born May 28, 1948
Entered September 1, 1966
Ordained June 8, 1979
Resides Omaha, NE

Accompaniment

One of the joys of being a member of Los Compañeros De Jesús has been companionship in the Society. For all our individualism, I have always felt that I’ve been accompanied by brothers and by mentors whose vision and commitment, whose gifts and generosity, inspired me, shaped me, and nurtured me along the way. It has been a privilege and a consolation to be among Jesuits who have the same desires and seek similar graces, and who have great experience and wisdom. I’ve learned so much from brothers whose courage and boldness in ministry has taught me to serve and to share my gifts.

It is a natural outcome of this life of being accompanied to be drawn to be with Jesus in accompanying others — my own brothers, but also those we serve. Pope Francis has helped us understand this mission of ours, with others, by fleshing out what we instinctively know about this service. We teach, we serve, we give retreats, we manage and lead, but most of all — in all of that — we accompany people, according to the vision Ignatius laid out in the Annotations of the Exercises (especially #15). We are best at letting God’s grace work in the lives of people by letting God take the lead. We accompany others in discernment and by offering our presence for their journey. They, in turn, share with us, with their care and the witness of their faith. A blessed life, indeed.

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