Pope Francis recently spoke to a large gathering of seminarians and novices in Rome.  As with many of his public appearances since his election last March, Francis displayed an energy and youthfulness that belied his age.  For the novices to whom he spoke, the Pope was quite adamant in suggesting that a person of the church must  see him or herself as a joyful sharer of the Gospel; a beacon of light for the world.   To quote the Pope from his July 6, 2013 homily: `'If you find a seminarian, priest, nun, with a long, sad face, if it seems as if in their life someone threw a wet blanket over them,'' then one should conclude `'it's a psychiatric problem, they can leave – `buenos dias’”. 

As I write this blog entry, I am beginning my 6th year as director of novices for the Canadian Jesuits.  After six years ‘on the job’ so to speak, I can say that there is much wisdom in Pope Francis’s words.  At the very least, the Church is getting such a hard rap these days that the last image she might want to present is one of a frowning, forlorn religious or priest who seems both at odds with the world and weighed down by the realities of daily existence. 

And so, I’d like to suggest that one of the most important aspects of my work with the young men who are desirous of joining the Order, it to help them to find joy and happiness in their chosen vocation. 

Joy and happiness in doing the work that the Jesuits have been doing for close to 500 years.  That is, giving spiritual guidance, teaching and taking the Church’s mission to the frontiers of society and culture.

It’s very fulfilling work actually – unpredictable and exciting.  A Jesuit should never feel that he is locked away in his ‘monastery’.  Rather, he should feel constantly the impulse to be in the world – where the action is – so that he may be poised to respond to the challenges of the current social climate and to meet individuals where they are, even if it might mean that the call takes one to the center of an Occupy Wall Street encampment, to Parliament Hill, to a Native Reserve or to a street corner where the latest moral controversy is being debated. 

I agree with Pope Francis, in that all of this needs to be done with a positive attitude.  More precisely, the individual needs to be responding from a deep seated desire to serve God in the world in a manner that is fulfilling and life giving, hopeful and inspiring to others.  Frankly speaking, part of my mandate as novice director is to test the vocation of the aspirant in terms of a healthy view of the world and a desire to work with all sorts of people, including those who may be alienated from organized religion or living on the margins of society.     

As I begin my sixth year in the novitiate I am looking forward to welcoming seven new novices to our novitiate house in Montreal.   These seven men, of diverse language and culture (the house is bilingual English and French),  are responding to a countercultural call to become Jesuit priests and brothers; to serve God in the Church and in the complex world that we live in . 

The Novitiate program comprises of diverse activities (study, prayer, internships etc.) all of which are centered on, or ‘flow out of’,  an experience of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits.  The Spiritual Exercises is a silent retreat lasting 30 days  or more and in which one prays to deepen the call to join Christ on his mission of hope and healing, love and peace, and faith and solidarity.  .

Amidst the challenges of our contemporary world, it may not be easy to stave off “a long, sad face.”  At the same time, people should be able to see priests and religious who are happy  and inspiring.  After all we, as Jesuits, are given the opportunity  each year to take time away from our busy schedules in order to renew that deep sense of mission and calling  that is at the root of our vocation.  We may not always feel like smiling but it is important to take inspiration from the Pope – who always seems to be smiling – in the reminder the mission of a priest or religious is to be a sign of God’s presence in the world.  Here’s how he concluded his address:

“And go forward with joy, with coherence, always with the courage to tell the truth, the courage to go out of oneself to meet Jesus in prayer and to go out of oneself to meet others and give them the Gospel, with pastoral fruitfulness! Please don’t be “spinsters” and “bachelors.” Go forward!”