Fr. Daniel J. Dixon, SJ

• Born: June 11, 1987

• Entered Society: August 25, 2012

• As a Jesuit: Father Dixon helped to start The Welsh Academy, a middle school for families of modest economic means in Cleveland; taught classes for English language learners to migrants and refugees at Saint Rita’s Center in the Bronx, New York, and at Oakland Catholic Worker in Oakland, California; taught RCIA classes for adults and served as a deacon at St. Elizabeth Parish in Oakland, which exposed him to the beauty and joy of sacramental ministry in the church.

• Assignment Following Ordination: Father Dixon will be a pastoral associate at St. Mary Student Parish at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

The reason I wanted to be a Jesuit priest always came down to the pastoral. I love walking with people, listening to their stories and forming connections. I believe that God is at work in every person’s life, and that gives me a great deal of hope for the future of our Church and our world, even when being realistic about the many injustices and challenges that people face.

Saint Oscar Romero’s closeness to the poor and suffering people of El Salvador taught him the importance of speaking out against the killing and injustice of the government, at great personal risk. This conviction was rooted in his knowledge of and love for Jesus, who was poor and identified with the poor, most powerfully through his suffering and death on the cross. Saint Oscar Romero is an inspirational example to me of someone who used his power and position to advocate for others, never losing sight of his relationship with God or his responsibility to those most marginalized.

There is so much I love about being a Jesuit. For example, the diversity in the Society makes community life much more interesting. Before entering, I worried the long formation process was designed in part to make Jesuits think a certain way or be interested in studying a particular thing. Happily, I have never been more wrong! I have friends who are professionals in sociology, physics and theater. There are Jesuits with views spanning the political spectrum. Some of us are obsessed with sports, while others couldn’t care less. I have learned that Jesuits do take seriously “finding God in all things” in the way that guys are encouraged to follow their passions, interests and desires in their personal and professional lives.

Large photo by: Art Montes
Inset photo by: Steve Donisch