Jesuits today serve in 112 nations on six continents and number about 16,000 priests, brothers and seminarians worldwide. Jesuits discharge a wide variety of roles including that of retreat directors, teachers, doctors, poets, lawyers, social workers, writers, administrators, professors, pastors, scientists and artists. Jesuits are also engaged in missionary work, uplift of the poor, social justice activities, inter-religious dialogue and other ministries.

Becoming a Jesuit is a lifetime project, whose sole aim is to love and serve God. Pedro Arrupe, one of our last Superiors General said to a young man who wished to join the Society of Jesus:

Jesuits look for men who feel called by God and who also possess:

• A deep personal love for Jesus Christ
• A habit of prayer which develops into action
• Sufficient self-knowledge
• Good religious practice
• Sufficient intellectual capacity
• A sense of sociability and availability
• Some familiarity with Jesuits
• Good physical health
• A history of service and concern for the poor
• The joy to live a life of poverty, chastity, obedience
• A strong desire-zeal for becoming a Jesuit!