We recall Jesus gathering his disciples when we speak of ‘vocation'. Jesuits strive to live as Jesus did, answering his call to serve others and working to build a just world.

The Jesuit vocation means living the Gospel message fully,
generously, perhaps even heroically.
It is not an easy life.
It is a wonderful vocation.
Everything for the greater glory of God;
more is not possible.

Pedro Arrupe SJ
(Superior General 1965-1983)

If you are interested in becoming a Jesuit, you may find the information in these pages helpful. You can contact us when you have further questions.

Candidacy

Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you will do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love, stay in love and it will decide everything.

The Candidacy Program - a series of steps

The Candidacy Program is a program of spiritual direction and vocational guidance. It is intended for a man who is seriously considering the Society of Jesus as a life-choice. The program provides an opportunity for vocational discernment — a time for a man to know himself more deeply, to grow in his personal relationship with Christ, to experience the life and mission of the Society of Jesus, and to clarify his future.

A man who wishes to become a candidate meets with the Vocation Director for an initial interview. The Vocation Director or the Coordinator of the Candidacy Program will organise for the candidate to receive regular spiritual direction and guidance from a Jesuit in order to discern whether he is called to Jesuit life.

Length of candidacy

The length of candidacy varies according to the stage in life of each individual. For example:

• If you are in High school...
  A person who has just completed high school may be a candidate for several years until he graduates from university.

• Are you a university student?
  —  Someone who is nearing graduation from tertiary studies might find that a year or less of candidacy is sufficient time to clarify the possibility of a Jesuit vocation.

• You may be enjoying a working life
  — A person who is working might find that a year or less of candidacy is sufficient time to clarify the possibility of a Jesuit vocation.

Spiritual direction - accompanying a candidate

Anyone who wishes to eventually apply to join the Society of Jesus is asked to have at least several months of spiritual direction with a Jesuit. Though the frequency of this direction varies, a candidate normally sees his director at least once a month.

The candidate’s relationship with his director requires openness and trust — something that is challenging but also very rewarding. The director assists the candidate to clarify his personal strengths and weaknesses, his aspirations and motivation, his experience of the Lord and the possible Jesuit character to his vocation. Moreover, the director or vocation director suggests readings to the candidate, which provide him more understanding about prayer, religious life, ministry in the Church, and Jesuit history and spirituality.

Assistance in discernment

Though the heart of the Candidacy Program is the ongoing spiritual direction, candidacy also affords other opportunities to help a man toward his decision. The following activities are strongly recommended to candidates and, indeed, requested of those men who are seriously considering application to the Society:

• Meetings with other candidates. These gatherings (hosted by Jesuit communities) may consist of Eucharist, a meal and a brief talk/discussion on some aspect of Jesuit life or apostolate.

• Individually-directed retreat of four to eight days. This retreat is given by the candidate's director or another Jesuit

• Visits to the Jesuit novitiate at Canisius College, Pymble. These informal weekend visits provide contact with young men who have recently begun their Jesuit life and also provide first hand knowledge of early Jesuit formation.

• Conversation with the Province Vocation Director. These conversations allow the Vocation Director an opportunity to know each candidate; and if appropriate, to assess the candidate’s readiness to enter the Society of Jesus.

• Apostolic projects with Jesuits and/or living in Jesuit communities. Those opportunities are occasionally offered according to the individual needs and initiatives of each candidate.

Making a good decision

Through the spiritual direction and activities of the Candidacy Program, a candidate might decide that he is not called to be a Jesuit. Whether for this or another reason, a person can terminate his candidacy at whatever point he chooses.

If, however, a candidate experiences a growing conviction and peace about his desire to enter the Society of Jesus, he first discusses this with his spiritual director. If his director shares this conviction, then this is communicated to the Vocation Director who can help the man to begin the application process.