August 1 — Fr. Andrew Rodriguez, SJ, marked several milestones in his Jesuit life on July 31, 2022, the feast of St. Ignatius, as he pronounced final vows in the Society of Jesus and became the director of novices and superior of the Jesuit Novitiate of the Three Companions in Culver City, California.
All Jesuits take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience upon completing two years as a novice. Then, after many years of Jesuit training and, for some, ordination, a Jesuit is invited into the final stage of his formation, called “tertianship,” which includes making the full Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. The Superior General of the Society of Jesus then decides whether to invite a Jesuit to pronounce final vows, which signifies his “full incorporation” into the Jesuits.
Fr. Rodriguez became a Jesuit in 2006. After earning a master’s degree in philosophy at Loyola University Chicago, he taught social studies and religion at St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco. Following theological studies at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in Berkeley, California, he was ordained in 2016. He then served as a retreat and spiritual director at the Jesuit Retreat House of Los Altos.
Fr. Rodriguez succeeds Fr. Steve Corder, SJ, who served as novice director for the past nine years. “Steve has served with great generosity, and he has provided wonderful care for our men, all for which we are most grateful,” said Fr. Sean Carroll, SJ, provincial of Jesuits West.
July 31 marked not only St. Ignatius’ feast day, but the close of the Ignatian Year, which celebrated the 500th anniversary of St. Ignatius being wounded by a cannonball during the Battle of Pamplona, which led to his conversion to a life of holiness. In addition, Father General Arturo Sosa, SJ, also renewed the consecration of the Society of Jesus to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on July 31. This renewal recalls the Jesuit’s long history of consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In 1872, Father General Pieter Jan Beckx first consecrated the Society to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.