After two years in the Novitiate, we see Mikhael Ahmad take his First Vows and become a Brother in the Society of Jesus.
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.
Dermot Preston is a Jesuit priest serving the parish and the poor in Newcastle. He says of the experience: "Britain has become a yet-more fragmented place with strikes and industrial action, but the poor cannot strike or withdraw their labour to make their absence felt – they cling on, watching somewhat helplessly, as the powers of this world push them about like corks in a fast-flowing river."
In formation to be a Jesuit priest, Christopher Brolly spent his Regency (two years of pastoral mission) working at St Ignatius College in Enfield. In this film we get a snapshot of his day as he navigates the joys and challenges of teaching in a busy Jesuit school.
Matthew Power is a Jesuit priest and Chaplain of the Oxford University Catholic Chaplaincy. The mission of the chaplaincy is to encourage and equip students to engage in University life, for the common good and as ambassadors of Christ, and to respond positively to the challenges of our world today. While not a work of the British Jesuits, Matthew's role at the chaplaincy shows just how wide-ranging Jesuit life can be.
Mikhael Ahmad struggled to make sense of his life and his faith. Born in Pakistan and raised in a mixed faith family, he later embraced Roman Catholicism. After doing a retreat, he felt called to a different path and joined the Society of Jesus. He subsequently spent two years as a Novice, culminating with First Vows - the ultimate commitment to Jesuit life.