Fr. Conan Rainwater, SJ
Entered the Society of Jesus: 2015
As a Jesuit: Father Rainwater taught sophomore and junior religion at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, helped with pastoral activities at the Jesuit parish in Urcos, Peru, and taught in the Fe y Alegría network.
Assignment Following Ordination: Father Rainwater will live at Creighton University in Omaha and serve as one of the two vocation promoters for the Midwest Province.
Expression of Gratitude and Inspiration: “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5). In each place I have lived—St. Paul, Minn.; Bismarck, N.D.; Omaha; Chicago; Cincinnati; Urcos, Peru; and Boston—I realized that I was standing on holy ground because I saw, heard and felt the presence of God in so many people there. They not only shaped me into who I am today but continue to form me. To you all, I am extremely grateful. Thank you. Without your support, I would not have been able to faithfully continue in this journey.
To my brother Jesuits, I thank you for continuing to draw me closer to Jesus Christ, our shared companion. To my friends, our sustained friendships have added joy to my life and expanded my horizons. Your warm hospitality has helped me stay closer to reality. A los peruanos, gracias por todo, especialmente por su cálida bienvenida, el ejemplo de su fe, y por ayudarme a reavivar mi vocación sacerdotal. To those whom I have served throughout my various ministries—including an emergency immigration shelter in El Paso, Texas, and a prison in Boston—thank you for being Christ’s face to me. Moreover, I extend my gratitude to my family. As the youngest, the patient and supportive love I received from you growing up, and continuing to this day, are true tastes of God’s love.
Most importantly, I express my sincere gratitude to God. Without you, God, who philosopher and theologian Paul Tillich describes as the Ground of Being, I would have no ground to stand on to witness the countless people who brought me to this day.
A Jesuit who influenced me was the late Fr. Patrick Malone, SJ (1959-2014), who I met when I was an undergraduate student at Creighton University in Omaha. Even though not many students attended the 8 a.m. Sunday Mass, I always felt welcomed because Fr. Pat stood outside greeting people. I was in awe of how he could proclaim the Gospel from memory. Looking back, I realized he not only proclaimed it, he lived it.
