Benefactors have always held a special place in the hearts and lives of Jesuits, for our ministries and programs could not exist without your generous support. We invite you to become a Jesuit partner by making a gift in support of these critical areas:
Training and education of Jesuits. This is called Formation, a process that typically lasts 10 to 12 years for each men seeking to become a Jesuit priest. Currently, more than 75 men are in our Formation program. The average annual cost per Jesuit in Formation is $50,000 – $60,000.
Caring for our elder and infirm Jesuit priests and brothers. This is a labor of love which, given the high cost of quality health care, is an expensive endeavor. Between 80 and 90 of our senior and infirm members reside at the Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos, Calif., devoting themselves to prayer and spiritual growth. The center operates an infirmary to provide skilled nursing for those men who require advanced care.
Social and pastoral ministries in the Province. We provide financial support to Jesuit-sponsored and other ministries within the Province’s service area in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. This support often takes the form of start-up or seed-grant assistance to ministries serving the poor and underprivileged. Examples of these ministries include Homeboy Industries, the Kino Border Initiative, Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest, and Proyecto Pastoral to name a few. (Learn more about Jesuit West’s ministries).
One of St. Ignatius’s original companions commented that Jesuits must always keep “one foot in the air,” meaning that they must always be ready at a moment’s notice to be sent where the need is greatest. That’s why we encourage our benefactors to give Jesuits West the flexibility it needs by making contributions of an unrestricted nature whenever possible. This allows the Province to apply gifts to meet the greatest need at a particular time, whether it be educating Jesuits, caring for elderly or infirm Jesuits, or sustaining or initiating ministries to serve people in parishes, schools, and communities here or abroad.
Your gift to the Jesuits brings the power and presence of Jesus Christ into the lives of needful individuals, and provides us with resources to develop and pursue new opportunities to serve God’s people.
You can also help by sharing our story, encouraging someone you know to consider a vocation, introducing us to friends and colleagues who may be interested in our work, and most importantly, offering prayers of support.
If you have questions or wish to contact us to discuss our ministries our or funding needs, please contact us.
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