If you have any more question, feel free to send a mail to pddpjs@gmail.com

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Society of Jesus?
2. What is Patna Province?
3. Who can become a Jesuit?
4. How much does a candidate needs to spend for Jesuit training?
5. How many years will it take to become a Jesuit?
6. What am I to do, if I want to join the Patna Province of the Society of Jesus?
7. I am not from Bihar (Patna), do I qualify to join the Patna Province of the Society of Jesus?

1. What is Society of Jesus?

   
   

   Society of Jesus is an international Catholic religious order founded by St.Ignatius of Loyola and his companions. SJ is the common abbreviation for the "Society of Jesus". The members of this organization are known as Jesuits. We are 21,354 (Jan 2000) Jesuits from various nationality spread all around the world serving people for Christ and His Church.

   
   
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2. What is Patna Province?

   
   

   To focus our service in a particular geographical area and for the administrative reasons, we are divided into "Provinces". These Provinces are grouped into 10 Assistancies. India comes under "South Asian Assistancy". Patna Province is one of the 18 Provinces in India. Patna Province consists of the Jesuits who opted themselves to serve the people of Bihar (Bihar is the one of the States of Indian Republic and Patna is the capital of Bihar).

   
   
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3. Who can become a Jesuit?

   
   

   To become a Jesuit:

   1. One has to be a baptized Catholic male, who has received the sacrament of Confirmation
   2. One who has no obligations to the family
   3. One who has generous heart to serve and follow Jesus
   4. One who is ready to follow the rules and regulations of the Society of Jesus
   5. One who has Metric (10th) as a minimum academic qualification.

   For further details contact us

   Email: Phone: Postal Address:	companion@patnajesuits.org Vocation Promoter St. Xavier's West Gandhi Maidan Patna - 800 001

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4. How much does a candidate needs to spend for Jesuit training?

   
   

   While in the candidate house, generally the candidates themselves spent part of the expenses for the training. All the same, the Society considers the conditions of each candidate and makes the necessary arrangements. Expense is not a matter of concern for a candidate who generously wishes to become a Jesuit and serve God through serving people.
   
   As soon as the candidate is accepted into the Novitiate, he has no more financial obligations. The Society, with the help of generous benefactors, takes care of financing his whole formation and training in the Society.

   
   
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5. How many years will it take to become a Jesuit?

   
   

   A person is known as Jesuit from the begining of his novitiate training in the Society of Jesus. In the novitiate, he is known as a Jesuit Novice and in the following formation years, he is known as Jeusit Scholastic. There are no fixed years to become a "formed Jesuit". After completion of novitiate for two years, if a person pronounces three perpetual vows (i.e., poverty, chastity and obedience) in the Society of Jesus, is generally called as a Jesuit. A Jesuit scholastic has to go through certain stages of formation before becoming a Jesuit priest or brother.

   
   

   Jesuit Priest	Jesuit Brother
   Stages of Formation: Candidacy: 1 or 2 years Pre-novitiate: 1 year Novitiate: 2 years Juniorate: 1 year College studies: 3 years (If undergraduate study is not completed) Philosophy: 2 years Regency: 2 years Theology: 4 years (at the end of the third year the Jesuit scholastic is ordained a priest)	Stages of Formation: Candidacy: 1 or 2 years Pre-novitiate: 1 year Novitiate: 2 years Juniorate: 1 year College studies: 3 years (If undergraduate study is not completed) Regency: 2 years

   
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6. What am I to do, if I want to join the Patna Province of the Society of Jesus?

   
   

   Step 1: Pray over the decision - Spend some time in prayer and ask God's grace to guide you so that you can live His Call.
   
   Step 2: If you think or even doubt that your decision is from God, contact us immediately. We will get in touch with you and we will be with you in your search. We encourage you to attend our vocation seminar generally organized during summer holidays.

   
   
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7. I am not from Bihar (Patna), do I qualify to join the Patna Province of the Society of Jesus?

   
   

   Yes, certainly. We expect you to be ready for learning the culture and the language of this place.

   
   
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If you have any more question, feel free to send a mail to pddpjs@gmail.com