In the not-so-distant past, a Jesuit preparing for ministry often spent the many years of his formation within his respective province. But these days a Jesuit might study and train on the opposite coast or even a far corner of the globe. So, when more than 40 Jesuits in formation from Jesuits West gathered right after Christmas, it was a happy homecoming.
The gathering, at the Jesuit Retreat Center in Los Altos, California, started in a special way as Fr. Ryan Rallanka, SJ, the Jesuits West Province’s new delegate for formation, professed his final vows. Jesuits formally profess vows as novices and then, not again, for many years until they are called to do so by the Jesuit Superior General as an act of final incorporation.
Fr. Rallanka wanted his final vows to take place at the formation gathering because many of the Jesuits in attendance had not witnessed a final vows liturgy. “I wanted them to see where their formation was pointing,” he said.
In addition, Fr. Rallanka wanted those in formation to have an update on the province’s many sectors. To kick off that part of the agenda, he asked Fr. Sean Carroll, SJ, Jesuits West’s provincial, to provide an informal “State of the Province” report through the lens of the pope’s Jubilee Year of Hope.
Later in the gathering, the group heard from the province’s provincial assistants for higher education, parish ministry, treasury, and vocation ministry and received updates on the pre-secondary and secondary education sector and the justice and ecology organizing sector. Fr. Radmar Jao, SJ, provincial assistant for vocations, spoke about the collaborative new model the province is employing for promoting vocations to the Society of Jesus. There were also daily liturgies and ample downtime where attendees could relax and catch up.
Prior to beginning this new assignment in September, Fr. Rallanka spent the last decade in the classroom, most recently teaching theology at Seattle Preparatory School. In his new role, he will visit each Jesuit in formation annually, which means that between now and April, he will spend time with Jesuits in New York, Washington, D.C., Boston, the Philippines, Kenya, Great Britain, Spain and France.
“For the Jesuits who study and train outside the province, it can be very valuable because it allows them to have a fuller experience of the Society of Jesus,” said Fr. Rallanka. “At the same time, we want to make sure that Jesuits in formation have a sense of fellowship and belonging, and the formation gathering was a perfect opportunity for the men to reconnect and reaffirm their relationship with each other and with the province.”
