Dear Jesuit Fathers,

Hello! Our names are Justice, Nathan and Daniel. We are from St Patrick’s  Elementary School in Maple Ridge, B.C. Grade 5. We are learning about religious brothers, Sisters and monks in our Religion class. Here are some questions we want to ask about you.:

What is your apostolate of your community

Do you play sports? What are they?

What do you love best about your life?

How many members are in your community?

What do you do for fun?

What year did your community start?

When you have time could you please answer our questions and

Write back? Here’s our address: 22589 St. Patrick’s Elementary

School, Grade five, Maple Ridge B.C.

Thanks for being                                              Thank you for

In a Religious                                                 saying “yes” to  God

community

Sincerely, Justice, Daniel and Nathan

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Xavier Jesuit Community

4859 College  Highroad Vancouver, British  Columbia

May 25, 2013

Dear Justice, Nathan, & Daniel:

Thank you for your letter of April 30, 2013. I just received it yesterday and that explains  the long gap in your receiving a reply from us.  I apologize for the delay, but now to the heart of your letter. You asked a number of questions about the Jesuit way  of  Living the Religious life so  I will  now answer your questions one at a time as best I can. For more Extensive answers you can also go online and google our official name “the Society of Jesus.”

Question # 1: What is our Apostolate?:  That could mean two different things. If you are asking what our community here in Vancouver does that’s very easy. Three of us work in  and around the Catholic colleges at U.B.C.  Corpus Christi/St. Mark’s.  St. Mark’s is also the name of  new parish  situated on the college property. Two of us Fr. Rob  Allore, and myself – Fr. Michael Stogre – work there as parish priests and chaplains just like in your home parish or parishes. Fr. Rob is also a scientist doing part time  research at the university. One other  priest here – Fr. Elton Fernandes – works around the area giving retreats and spiritual direction. We will soon have a new person  joining us who is an astrophysicist and will be working  in the U.B.C. physics department. A fifth member is not yet a priest but he too is working at Corpus Christi College. So that also answers  Question # 4.

If your question is about what Jesuits do around the world then I would say you can find us doing just about anything and everything. We help the Pope run his observatories in Rome and Arizona,  we help run the Vatican Radio  station, as well as teach  in several schools in Rome operated by the Vatican.

The key thing to know is that we take a vow to accept missions from the Pope anywhere in the world.

In the past he has sent us to Ethiopia and Japan, but a mission could also be the other activities right there in Rome.  Jesuits have been scientists, doctors, lawyers, social workers,  painters & poets. But we are priests first.  Our main task, the same as all Christians, is to proclaim the Gospel wherever we find ourselves.

Question # 2:  Yes we play sports. In fact I was just playing hockey yesterday with a group of guys from the physics department at U.B.C.  I have played hockey all my life.  I am now  nearly 68. Some like to play tennis or squash. When I was younger I also played  baseball.  Some like to run or cycle etc.

Question  # 3:  I have loved the opportunities to study many subjects including philosophy, theology, and medicine, and then to share what I have learned in teaching, preaching, conversing with a whole range of  people of  all ages.  I also like the community’s availability to be sent anywhere  in the world.

Question # 5: As for fun, I likes sports as mentioned already. I also used to hunt and fish in Northern Ontario before I moved to British Columbia. I also shooting sports especially archery which I hope to continue here if I can find a suitable  range. Some members like to  participate in choirs and  some  are movie buffs.  The list could go on.

Question  # 6:  The Jesuits go back a long way . We were approved by Pope Paul III in  1540 if my memory serves me well.  Hoping this letter begins to answer some of  your questions I  remain,

Yours Sincerely,

Fr. Michael  Stogre S.J.