Fr Michael Barrow SJ was 91 years old when we filmed this interview, and had been a Jesuit for over 70 years. Like all Jesuits, his career has been incredibly varied, including stints as a teacher in the UK and as a parish priest in Barbados. Here he reflects on his life and his vocation.
If you are thinking about your place in the world, interested in exploring your vocation or calling, or want to know more about the Society of Jesus, please contact us or visit the vocations page on our website.
Words by Fr Michael Barrow SJ
I am Fr Michael Barrow; I’ve been a Jesuit for just over 70 years, and I’ve now come to what we call our ‘retirement’. I don’t feel like retiring but I’ll be 92 next week so they feel I ought to! My brother is a Jesuit, my other brother is a Diocesan priest, and so we were a thoroughly Catholic family. If Jesus came into our house, my mum would offer him a cup of tea. He was just part of the family.
Somebody asked me “what attracted you to the Jesuits?”. I think it is really that a Jesuit could be himself… If somebody’s thinking of being Jesuit, I hope it can be as fantastic [an experience] as mine. You’ve got to take the risk. If you’re inclined to, get out of the boat and walk upon the water. The water varies. There are worries. There are things that are going to get in the way. You’ve got to walk on that to get to Christ.
If you are thinking about your place in the world, interested in exploring your vocation or calling, or want to know more about the Society of Jesus, please contact us or visit the vocations page on our website.