The three eastern Jesuit provinces in the U.S. gathered this weekend at Fordham University in the Bronx, New York for its first intra-province days in anticipation of our impending mergers. New England and New York will merge in 2015 with Maryland coming on board in 2020. The days were a chance to get to know each other, to pray, and to celebrate the many good works we are doing.
The keynote address was given by Pat Lee, S.J., provincial of the Oregon province. Small group table conversations followed with three representatives from each of the three provinces. Following a liturgy at Fordham University Church, the mother church of the New York province, the Jesuits and colleagues gathered for a social and dinner. Jesuit Jeopardy wrapped up the evening. Each of the colleges/universities awarded prizes from their gift shops to winners of Jeopardy.
On Friday morning, four panelists (a Mercy Sister from Jamaica, the head of the Jesuit Collaborative, the Vice Principal of Xavier School, and a political science professor from Scranton University) discussed various aspects of colleagueship with its inherent challenges and opportunities. Small group discussions deepened the conversations.
The free afternoon afforded us a chance to rekindle distant relationships and to catch up on the personal and professional events of each other's lives. Mass and dinner celebrated the 31 men who are 50 years a Jesuit. An ordination haustus (party) honored the three men who were ordained on Saturday morning to the priesthood.
Many thanks for Fordham University for its gracious hospitality and generosity to us.
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