Personal Introduction

Welcome! My name is John Roselle, SJ, and I took lifelong ("perpetual") vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience as a Jesuit on August 13th, 2011 after a two-year novitiate. I am now a Jesuit Scholastic for the Wisconsin Province of the Society of Jesus. I will study philosophy and theology for the next three years at Loyola University in Chicago. At the same time, I will do part-time ministry in some capacity with the poor. After that, I will likely teach for three years before finishing three more years of theology. Then, God willing, I will be ordained a Roman Catholic Jesuit priest! It's a long road, but a blessed, fun, and enriching one. This blog exists as a resource for friends, family, and others who are interested in my progress through the Jesuit process of formation. Every day is its own adventure, and I am happy to have you along with me to share in this. This blog contains my own personal thoughts and should not be taken to speak for the entire Society of Jesus. Feel free to contact me. God bless you!















Sunday, January 22, 2012

The Freedom of the Vows

Funny personal story: just tonight I received a heartfelt email from a female medical student that I met at a wedding this summer; I was in the wedding party of a good friend.  At the reception, we had a great, God-centered conversation.  She was seeking more in her life, and I felt called to give her my email, with the understanding that I was about to take vows and that we could only be friends (which she understood).  Tonight after a long time of not corresponding, she contacted me and opened up, telling me about some struggles and asking if I could help her learn to pray.  Now, if I were married, I really should be attending to my wife and kids, not helping random people I met at weddings to pray! :)  I can tell you that it is a great joy to be a spiritual father/brother to others in ways that these vows enable.  By the same token, a religious sister is a spiritual mother/sister to those with whom she ministers.  It is a rich life, and I thought I would share this vignette to help bring it home.  Please keep inviting more women (and men) to consider religious life and/or priesthood.  The world and the Church need us (as well as committed, faith-filled laypeople) for the sake of the Gospel and to help souls.  
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3 comments:

  1. Daniel MoraJanuary 22, 2012 at 6:38 PM

    I'm 100% with you.

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  2. AnonymousFebruary 2, 2012 at 11:59 AM

    John, thank you for sharing! You know we are with you on this one. We have four young souls in this home that we are encouraging to listen closely to God and what He wants from them. We would be very blessed to have 3 more priests and a nun to shine in this dark world for the souls who are lost or in need. We are proud of you John. Please keep us in your prayers as you are in ours!

    Kathryn Smith

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  3. AnonymousFebruary 20, 2012 at 7:55 PM

    I'm married, have two kids and people stopping me on my walk asking me to help teach them to pray. The Exercises have given me the freedom to move in this place as well, to answer this call from God. These vows we take, whether in religious life or in marriage, are a great mystery indeed!

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