Dear Friends,

Being connected to a school as a parent, teacher or student offers an appreciation of the flow of the academic year. Spring turns to summer, and summer (too quickly for some) turns to the excitement of a new academic year.

Nowhere in our province was the anticipation of the new school year greater than it was in Cincinnati this summer. There, guided by a seemingly impossible dream, a group of people came together to define and create Xavier Jesuit Academy, the newest school in the Midwest Province (page 10). The opening of Xavier Jesuit Academy, a Nativity model elementary/middle school in the African American Bond Hill neighborhood, marks the 10th Jesuit school to open in our province in the past 30 years. It is a deeply inspiring story of love, determination and trust in God’s plan.

“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. ” –Jeremiah 29:11

As you know, Jesuit works require new Jesuits, and we were very blessed to welcome six men to the novitiate in mid-August (page 6). Just a week earlier, four men professed their first vows (photos, page 8). It is only with your generosity that we can provide the young men who hear God’s call with a rigorous and lengthy formation.

It is just such formation that leads a man to put aside his own desires and move halfway around the world to live in service of others. In this issue you’ll find the inspiring story of three Jesuits from Chicago and Detroit who were sent to Peru decades ago to serve the faithful (page 4) and were so welcomed that they still live and work there to this day.

You’ll also find a moving reflection on the epidemic of loneliness (page 13) based on a powerful talk by Fr. Patrick “Paddy” Gilger, SJ, a sociologist who has studied the topic extensively. As a companion to Fr. Gilger’s thoughts, we provide a list of our province ministries to support anyone experiencing the desolation of loneliness and the desire to relearn a sense of belonging. Let us pray for anyone who feels lonely or disconnected, that they may feel the warmth of God’s embrace. And let us be inspired to not overlook those around us who suffer from loneliness.

Please know of my gratitude for all of you who make our work possible and of my continued prayers for you and your loved ones.