The ÁùºÏ²Ê²Êͼ Jesuit Community
![Group photo of the ÁùºÏ²Ê²Êͼ Jesuit Community, more than two dozen people. Names are below on this page.](/about/mission-vision/religious-sponsors/images/jesuit-community/Jesuit-Community-Group-Photo-current-1900x700.webp)
A Community Always Seeking God's Will
The ÁùºÏ²Ê²Êͼ Jesuit Community resides on two campuses: in Lansing-Reilly Hall on the McNichols Campus of ÁùºÏ²Ê²Êͼ Mercy and also in the Jesuit Residence at UD Jesuit High School. Here is where Jesuits live as friends in the Lord at the service of mission. Because our fraternal bonds proclaim the Gospel, our community itself is a mission.
In this community Jesuits live out their vocation, serving in six works sponsored by the Society of Jesus:
- ÁùºÏ²Ê²Êͼ,
- UD Jesuit High School,
- Loyola High School,
- Gesu Parish,
- SS Peter and Paul Parish, and
- the Pope Francis Center.
Currently, the Jesuit community in the Lansing-Reilly Hall Residence consists of 17 Jesuit priests, one Jesuit brother, two Jesuit scholastics (students) while three priests reside elsewhere for the benefit of their apostolic work. Though some Jesuits serve as faculty and staff at the University, others are parish priests, addiction counselors, retreat directors, development officers, spiritual directors, seminary professors, social workers, homeless relief providers and immigrant/migrant advocates. Another six Jesuits (four priests and two brothers) reside at UD Jesuit High School.
Our collaboration with the laity at ÁùºÏ²Ê²Êͼ Mercy and in ÁùºÏ²Ê²Êͼ flows from our personal relationships with Christ. We see ourselves as companions of Jesus, and we invite others to join us as friends in the Lord. Together, we build up the body of Christ. With our friends and partners, we also reach out to a broadly diverse world because that is where we find God. From experience and reflection, we know meaning, value and divine purpose can be discovered "in all things."
"The real measure of our Jesuit universities,
lies in who our students become."
—Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J. former superior general of the Society of Jesus
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The Jesuit Community
Lansing Reilly Residence at ÁùºÏ²Ê²Êͼ
Rev. Christopher Alt, S.J. assistant Pastor, Gesu Parish; Social work ministries.
Rev. Richard Baumann, S.J. pastor Sacred Heart Parish
Rev. Joseph Daoust, S.J. pastoral ministry
Rev. Patrick Dorsey, S.J. assistant for major gifts and special projects in the UDM Advancement Office.
Rev. Mark George, S.J. parish and prison ministry
Rev. Si Hendry, S.J. director, Catholic Studies Program; teacher, religious studies and philosophy; coordinator, 19th annotation retreats for faculty and administrators at ÁùºÏ²Ê²Êͼ
Rev. Tim Hipskind, S.J. co-director, Institute for Leadership and Service; director, Service Learning at ÁùºÏ²Ê²Êͼ
Br. Dick Hittle, S.J. certified addictions counselor; writer for "Human Development" a publication of Guest House
Mr. James Kamau, S.J. graduate student of engineering in the UDM College of Engineering and Science
Rev. Romain Kazadi, S.J. graduate student of engineering in the UDM College of Engineering and Science
Rev. Justin Kelly, S.J. Jesuit professor emeritus, ÁùºÏ²Ê²Êͼ
Rev. Patrick Kelly, S.J. associate professor of religious studies., ÁùºÏ²Ê²Êͼ
Rev. Tom McClain, S.J. superior of ÁùºÏ²Ê²Êͼ Jesuit Community (Lansing Reilly Residence, UD Jesuit Residence)
Rev. Joel Medina, S.J. Hispanic ministry; chaplain at Henry Ford and Trinity Health; parish ministry
Mr. Cleophas Odinga, S.J. graduate student in the UDM School of Architecture
Rev. Lorn Snow, S.J. pastor, Gesu Parish
Rev. Don Vettese, S.J. pastoral and spiritual ministries, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland and Milan Federal Prison ; consultant, Not-for-Profit Advancement
Rev. Gary Wright, S.J. pastor, Saints Peter and Paul Jesuit Church
Jesuit Residence at UD Jesuit High School and Academy
Br. James Boynton, S.J. president of UD Jesuit High School and Academy
Mr. Nathaniel Cortas, S.J. teacher of English at UD Jesuit
Mr. Brennan Dour, S.J. teacher of social studies at Loyola High School
Rev. Steven Hurd, S.J. retreat/spiritual director and director of Internship in Ignatian Spirituality, Manresa Jesuit Retreat House
Rev. Daniel Kennedy, S.J. assistant to the president, graduate student in counselling at John Carroll University
Rev. Benard Omondi, S.J. graduate student in education at Creighton University, campus ministry at UD Jesuit.
Rev. Trevor Rainwater, S.J. teacher of theology and campus/sacramental ministry at UD Jesuit, house vice-superior
Mr. Edwin Wesonga, S.J. teacher of mathematics at Loyola High School
Rev. Robert Ytsen, S.J. teacher of British Literature at UD Jesuit, retreat and spiritual director at Manresa Retreat House, pastoral ministry.
Jesuit Residence at Manresa Jesuit Retreat House
Rev. Leo Cachat, S.J. retreat and spiritual director
Rev. Fran Daly, S.J. retreat and spiritual director, director of tertians
Rev. Robert Flack, S.J. retreat and spiritual director
Rev. Peter Fennessy, S.J. retreat and spiritual director, house superior
Rev. Robert Scullin, S.J. retreat and spiritual director, pastoral ministry
Members of this Community Residing Elsewhere
Rev. James Hug, S.J. chaplain, Adrian Dominican Sister
Rev. Peter Ryan, S.J. professor of moral theology, Sacred Heart Major Seminary; parish ministry at OL Good Counsel
Rev. Cy Whitaker, S.J. professor and spiritual director of seminarians at Sacred Heart Major Seminary
Additional Staff
Mrs. Ruth Fichter bookkeeper and guestmaster
Mrs. Pat Havern R.N. health care coordinator
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Jesuit Residence Location
Home of the Jesuit Community
ÁùºÏ²Ê²Êͼ
Lansing-Reilly Hall
4001 W. McNichols Road
ÁùºÏ²Ê²Êͼ, MI 48221-3038 -
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Universal Apostolic Priorities
Universal Apostolic Preferences are the fruit of a process of discernment lasting almost two years. All Jesuits were invited to take part and in addition our mission partners. It concluded with a confirmation from Pope Francis in a special meeting with Fr General Arturo Sosa. The Preferences give a horizon, a point of reference to the whole Society of Jesus. They capture our imaginations and awaken our desires. They unite us in our mission. The new Preferences are four areas vital for our world today. The Society of Jesus will pay special attention to them in the next ten years. We invite you to learn more and take action with us! We want to make a Gospel difference.
- : Show the way to God through the Spiritual Exercises and discernment.
- : Walk with the poor, the outcasts of the world, those whose dignity has been violated, in a mission of reconciliation and justice.
- : Accompany young people in the creation of a hope-filled future.
- : Collaborate, with Gospel depth, for the protection and renewal of God’s Creation.
To learn more about our Universal Apostolic Priorities, .
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Links to Jesuit Works in ÁùºÏ²Ê²Êͼ
(Clarkston, MI)
Do You Have a Calling to Serve Christ?
Pray. Discern. Imagine.
The Society of Jesus is the largest order of priests and brothers in the Catholic Church. Founded almost half a millennium ago by the soldier-turned-mystic, St. Ignatius of Loyola, along with the First Companions, Jesuits seek to "find God in all things." Jesuit priests and brothers are involved in educational, pastoral and spiritual ministries around the world, practicing a faith that promotes justice.
As Jesuits, we observe and engage the sensitive movements of God within us and we learn to make decisions that reflect God's will. For over 450 years, the Jesuits have served at the world's frontiers, always working for the greater glory of God.
Photo Identities
The 2024 group photo above shows the following members of the ÁùºÏ²Ê²Êͼ Jesuit Community.
Back row: Patrick Dorsey, Christopher Alt, Peter Fennessy, Bob Ytsen
Middle: Dick Baumann, Jim Boynton, Dan Kennedy, Lorn Snow, Tim Hipskind, Bob Flack, Joel Medina, Romain Kazadi, Dick Hittle, Joe Daoust, Nate Cortas
Front (standing): Brennan Dour, Edwin Wesonga, Steve Hurd, Trevor Rainwater, James Kamau, Gary Wright, Si Hendry, Fran Daly, Bob Scullin, Benard Omondi, Don Vettese, Tom McClain
Seated / kneeling: Justin Kelly, Mark George, Leo Cachat
Not pictured: Jim Hug, Pat Kelly, Odinga Owino, Peter Ryan, Cy Whitaker