José R. Dueño Gorbea, SJ
Province: USA Central and Southern
Hometown: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Highlights of Jesuit Formation:
- Worked as a videographer at America Media in New York City.
- Studied philosophy in Paris.
- Did parish work as a deacon with the Hispanic community at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Boston.
Post-Ordination:
Will serve at Colegio San Ignacio and assist at Parroquia San Ignacio de Loyola, both in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Education:
Bachelor’s degree, comparative literature and film and television production, New York University; Licentiate, canonical baccalaureate in philosophy, Centre Sèvres; Master of Divinity, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry; Licentiate in Sacred Theology, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry
Biography:
José R. Dueño Gorbea, SJ, was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He met the Jesuits while he was a student at Colegio San Ignacio. He attended New York University where he double majored in film/television production and comparative literature. After college, he joined the Society of Jesus, completing his novitiate at Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic. He then studied philosophy at Centre Sèvres in Paris. After this experience, José worked as a videographer at America Media in New York City for two years during regency. He taught Puerto Rican history and French at Colegio San Ignacio in San Juan during his third year of regency. José next earned his Master of Divinity and Licentiate in Sacred Theology, focusing on systematic theology, at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. He also served as a deacon at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in the Mission Hill neighborhood in Boston, working primarily with the Hispanic community. After ordination, José will serve as parochial vicar at Parroquia San Ignacio de Loyola and assist at Colegio San Ignacio, both in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Who’s your favorite saint, and why?
I have many favorite saints, but if I had to choose one, I would say St. Charles de Foucauld. I find his conversion story to be inspiring. Moreover, his spirituality of the hidden life of Nazareth reminds me of the importance of gratuitousness in religious life.
What is one hobby you’ve cultivated as a Jesuit, and why is it important to you?
Though I’ve cultivated many hobbies as a Jesuit, long-distance running is one that has been particularly important for me in the last few years. Running has allowed me to make friends with other runners and explore new places. But, most importantly, running helps me cultivate a sense of discipline which, I think, translates into other areas of my life.
What was one particularly meaningful experience you had during your formation, and why was it meaningful to you?
I made my novitiate pilgrimage around the northwestern part of the Dominican Republic, near the Haitian border. The pilgrimage lasted five weeks. Each week, I stayed with a different family, in a different village, and worked with them. This experience was valuable in learning to trust God’s actions in the people I met along the way.
Where has your Jesuit vocation taken you that you never thought you would go?
I never thought I would go to the Gaza Strip. When I was a regent working at America magazine, I was part of a team of Jesuits who went to Gaza to film a short documentary about a puppet theater group there that uses art to help children heal from war trauma.
