The Jesuits
The Society of Jesus been asked by the Bishops of England and Wales and the Oxford Board to provide chaplains for the Oxford Chaplaincy for the current six-year term (2007 - 20013). Along with other religious orders, male and female, Jesuits have been involved in modern Catholic life at the University since the 1890s through their house of studies (first named Clark’s Hall and eventually Campion Hall) which has been on its present site in Brewer Street since the 1930s. Members of Campion Hall have made distinguished contributions to the life of the University, and to the academic life of the Church. The Jesuits have also been involved in the founding of several of the local parishes around Oxford.
Fr. Roger and Fr. John are both Jesuits and members of the Campion Hall community. We draw our inspiration from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola and the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus, which Ignatius wrote in the last 15 years of his life. These, and the five hundred year tradition of work in education and the development of a Christian Humanism, shape much of what we try to do.
If you want to know more about the British Jesuits, free DVDs are available in the Narthex of the Chaplaincy. If you are curious to meet other real live Jesuits, just ask Fr. Roger or Fr. John for an invitation to supper.
For information about the Order, see the British Province Website www.jesuit.org.uk.
For an insight into the special relationship with the Pope and the mission of the Society in today’s Church, see the Holy Father’s address to the General Congregation in February at which the new Jesuit General, Fr. Adolfo Nicolas was elected.
For an entertaining insight into less positive perceptions of the Jesuits, read how they sank the Titanic.
http://www.vaticanassassins.org/titanic.htm