In May 2014, igNation launched a series exploring the Jesuit identity as it is expressed in works of fiction: "Keyword: Jesuit, Genre: Fiction".  This was followed by the series "Keyword: Jesuit, Genre: Biography".  In these two series we hear what others think about what it means to be a Jesuit – in fiction and in biography.

 This new series – “Keyword: Jesuit, Genre: Autobiography” – will explore what it means to be a Jesuit today – as told in their own words by Canadian Jesuits.  The articles – written for igNation –are as different in expression and format as the men who wrote them. 

                 Today's posting – Priest and Teacher –  is by Len Altilia, SJ

This is my fiftieth year in the Society of Jesus.  The official anniversary date is August 14, the day of my entrance into the Novitiate in Guelph, Ontario.  This seems like a good time to reflect back on the fifty years to see if I can identify, as requested by the blog master, what it means to me to be a Jesuit.

There are certainly ready answers that come to mind but they seem somewhat trite and superficial.  So in an effort to get at the heart of it I’m going to tell you two stories that, I hope, will illustrate my sense of being a Jesuit.

The first took place in August, 2013.  I was just getting started in my new role as President of St. Paul’s High School in Winnipeg.  One day before school officially opened for the year, the moderator of the Student Council invited me to drop in on her meeting with the new council executive.  So later that morning I visited her classroom where they were meeting.  At first the boys looked at me quizzically, “Who is this guy busting in on our meeting?”  Realizing that the teacher hadn’t prepped them for my visit, I introduced myself, “I’m your new President!” 

Having gotten past the initial awkwardness, I invited them to ask whatever questions they had.  One of the boys asked if I would be teaching.  I replied, “Not in the sense that I think you are asking.  I won’t be teaching classes.  However, I am always teaching, for the simple reason that you are always watching.”

Fast forward to the end of the school year.  I joined the school service trip to El Salvador as part of my intention to experience as much as I could of the school’s activities and programs in my first year. I also wanted to validate this program by lending the authority of my office to it. You know, if the President thinks it’s important enough for him to go, then it must be important. Several things happened during this trip that made me very happy that I decided to go.   But one event in particular stands out.

In the village of El Faro we were working with the locals on a couple of improvement projects: carrying rocks to rebuild one of their roads, and helping to plant izote (the national flower of El Salvador) on a hillside to prevent further erosion, and a few other things. 

During lunch one day I was approached by a couple of older women who asked me if I would consider celebrating mass for their village.  “Our priest won’t come to our village because he doesn’t agree with our politics,” they told me.  And they asked me if I would also bless the cross they had erected in their village.  Again, the priest had refused to come to do that for them.

Quite apart from my anger and indignation, I was deeply moved by the sincerity of their desire to celebrate the Eucharist as a community and to have the important symbol of the cross consecrated.  It turns out that they had not had mass in their village since last Christmas!  After making all the necessary arrangements we celebrated the Eucharist a few days later in what passes as a village square.  The look of joy and gratitude on the faces of the people filled me with consolation.  It was one of the most satisfying masses I have ever celebrated.  Our students were there too, but at the back, allowing the villagers to have the chairs.

Later, during one of our sharing sessions, I said to the students, “I wish you could have been up at the front with me, to see the look on the faces of the people, the sheer joy and gratitude they felt as they participated in the mass.  How come I don’t see that look on your face when I celebrate mass for you?”

I joined the Jesuits fifty years ago because I wanted to be a priest and a teacher.  I thank God that I have had the privilege of living out that desire ever since.

(All photos courtesy of Dennis Kuzemko, director of Project El Salvador and teacher at St. Paul's High School)