FCA's Jesuit Honor Roll

This list was originally taken from Credo's "In Good Company". I have added names and will continue to update the JHR as I find the time and resources. I would also like to highlight a cool blog I just discovered: A Little Battalion, which claims to be, "An eclectic assortment of mild-to-moderately obsessive Jesuit lovers, striving to turn worry into prayer. Or at least into an entertaining and informative blog. A.M.D.G." A Little Battalion has its own "A-list" of what it calls "Good Old-Fashioned St. Ignatius Jesuits". I have integrated their "A-list" into my own.

Thumbing my nose at the widespread anti-Jesuitry in St. Blog's parish, and the Catholicism-I-Know generally, I I decided to add this list to FCA for two reasons. First, Credo said, yes, I could steal the idea!

Second, I attended a Mass 5 November 2005 at Fu Ren University in Xin Zhuang (near Taipei); November 5th is the feast of All Saints and Blesseds of the Society of Jesus. The day was really something for me. It was not a fruit-loopy Mass (which, I admit, I slightly worried about having with "those darn Jesuits"). The worship was strangely simultaneously Gregorian and modern (i.e., male chanting harmony plus overhead songs and a subdued electric guitar). The fathers there, most of them, were old (very old), but nearly to a man they exuded such jolly fraternal joy! Before Mass, I made confession with a young Jesuit, which, I was stunned and delighted to realize, was one of the best confessions I've ever experienced. I smiled despite myself as the priest counseled me about "movements" and "sensations" of the soul. "This is Jesuit theology!" I said to myself, "as if straight from St. Ignatius to me!" "Right before my eyes!" All in all, it was a real pleasure to enjoy such nice "company" (not to mention the plush free meal afterward!).

The criteria for making the list are: 1) be a Jesuit, 2) persevere as a Jesuit, 3) at the very least not actively promulgate grave doubts, heresies, or scandals as a Jesuit, 4) work, preach, teach or write in a Christ-honoring, Ignatian way (and about issues I find interesting and/or commendable), and 5) reach my blogging radar. Fr. Walling, for example, whom I met last November at Fu Ren, has been serving in China/Taiwan for decades, and directs retreats at the Manresa Center in Jing Shan; so not only do I respect his work as a Jesuit, but also know him personally -- in fact, he might lead me through the Exercises next summer! Of course, what's the bottom line criterion for making the Jesuit honor roll? What else but: "Ad majorem Dei gloriam!"

Fr. John Hardon, S.J. (R.I.P.) [more]

Fr. Greg Jordan, S.J. [more 1, 2]

Fr. James Schall, S.J. [more 1, 2]

Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J. [more]

Fr. Paul Mankowski, S.J. [more]

Fr. Robert Spitzer, S.J. [more]

Fr. Joe Koterski, S.J.

Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J. [more]

Fr. Paul Shaughnessy, S.J.

Fr. John Kavanaugh, S.J.

Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J.

Fr. Jim Kubicki, S.J.

Fr. Ron Tacelli, S.J. [more]

Fr. Richard Hermes, S.J.

Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J.

Fr. John Conley, S.J.

Fr. Edwin F. Healy, S.J.

Fr. Tom King, S.J.

Fr. Ray Gawronski, S.J.

Fr. Bill Kurz, S.J.

Fr. David Meconi, S.J.

Fr. Dick Tomasek, S.J.

Fr. Al Winshman, S.J.

Paul Cardinal Shan Kuo-hsi, S.J. [more 1, 2]

Fr. James Chevedden, S.J. (R.I.P.)

Fr. Norman Walling, S.J. [MORE]

Ignatius Cardinal Pin-Mei Kung, S.J. (R.I.P.)

Archbishop Tang Yee-Ming, S.J. (R.I.P.)

Fr. Martin McDermott, S.J.

Fr. Edward T. Oakes, S.J.

Fr. Brian E. Daley, S.J.

Fr. Kenneth Baker, S.J.

Fr. Louis Aldrich, S.J.

Fr. Christopher Steck, S.J.

Fr. Paul McNellis, S.J. [more]

Fr. Robert I. Bradley, S.J.

Fr. Thomas M. King, S.J.

Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio, S.J. [more 1, 2]