Birmingham: Four Jesuit novices make First Vows

Source: Jesuits in Britain

Four Jesuit novices have professed their First Vows in the Society of Jesus at a special Mass celebrated at St Mary's Church in Harborne, Birmingham.

Joseph Beakhouse, Jean-Christophe Carré, Vilém Plaček and Martin Šimunský made their vows on Saturday 5 September, surrounded by family, friends, fellow Jesuits and those who have accompanied them during their formation.

The First Vows Mass was livestreamed from St Mary's Church, Harborne, and can be watched in full here: Jesuit Novices First Vows Mass.

The four men - one from Britain, one from France and two from the Czech Republic - have spent the past two years at the Birmingham International Jesuit Novitiate, discerning their vocation and being formed in Jesuit life.

First Vows mark an important moment in the formation of a Jesuit. At the end of the two-year novitiate, a novice who continues in the Society professes vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. His formation does not end there, but continues through further study, community life, prayer and apostolic ministry.

In his homily, Fr David Smolira SJ reflected on what lies at the heart of the commitment the four men were making:

"Today they will make vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. And it would be easy to think of the vows simply as a list of things that they are promising to give up. But that's not really at the heart of what is happening today. The vows are not fundamentally about giving things up; they're about giving themselves. They are saying, Everything I have is gift, everything I am is gift, and I want my life to become a gift to others in return."

Fr David also reminded the four men that their vocation begins not with their own commitment, but with God's call and faithfulness.

"God called you before you made your vows, and God will remain faithful long after the enthusiasm of today has passed."

For Fr Matthew Power SJ, Novice Master in Birmingham, witnessing the four men reach this point after two years of discernment was a moment of profound joy.

"Having had two years here in the novitiate, in which they have spent a lot of time reflecting on what the Lord is calling them to, they've come to this moment of making, from their side at least, a life commitment, which is a huge undertaking. And for me as a novice master, there's a great sense of joy in the moment."

For Joseph Beakhouse, the only British novice among the four, making his vows alongside the companions with whom he had shared his novitiate brought a particular realisation.

"I have the reassurance that it's not God calling me into service of his Kingdom, but actually he's calling me into friendship. So for me, that's the real consolation today, that in a deeper sense, discovering my vocation is really a vocation to friendship."

Fr Peter Gallagher SJ, Provincial Superior of Jesuits in Britain, described the profession of First Vows as a sign of hope and of a commitment extending far beyond the celebration itself.

"It's a day which is full of hope because the service of Christ that they're giving of themselves by making those promises, by making those vows, is something that goes on and on. It's for today and it's for a whole life."

The next stage of formation

The four new Jesuits will now leave Birmingham and begin the next stage of their formation.

Joseph Beakhouse, Jean-Christophe Carré and Vilém Plaček will move to Paris to study philosophy, while Martin Šimunský will begin philosophy studies in Rome. Alongside their academic studies, they will continue their formation in Jesuit community life and undertake apostolic ministry.

For the four men, First Vows therefore mark both the culmination of their two years as novices and the beginning of a much longer journey of formation and service in the Society of Jesus.

If you would like to explore a Jesuit vocation please visit our vocations website here. www.jesuitvocations.uk/