The following letter I sent to a few family and friends in September of 2010.
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Dear Family & Friends:
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Dear Family & Friends:
I am sorry that this letter is a mass distribution letter; however, there is so much information that I wanted to share with you and I’m sure there are SO many questions that you must have. I am going to try and answer some of the questions that I have been getting. I want to start by saying THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for all the prayers that you have sent my way over the many years, especially the past 2 years during my Jesuit discernment process. They have truly been felt; and as I continue to pray for you every day, I ask that you continue keeping me in your thoughts and prayers.
This letter has a few purposes. First of all, I wanted to let you know what is currently happing in my life, what is going on, and how life is these days. Secondly, I wanted to tell you a bit about what the Jesuit formation process (seminary) includes, and what life (I assume/I’m told) will be like for the next few years. Finally, I’ve included my contact information, schedule, and when/how to get a hold of me. I am going to try and spell out as much as I can in detail, so that you are able to understand the process. However, seeing all of you, my friends and family, have a broad range of understanding of both Catholicism and specifically the Jesuits, I will try to do my best to address my broad audience.
Where is Keith?!? So, I am now living in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is the capital city of Minnesota, sometimes called the “Twin Cities” along with Minneapolis. The street I am on is beautiful. I live at the Jesuit Novitiate, it across the street from the Governors Mansion; which tells you that it is in a nice neighborhood (very nice neighborhood), seems to be very safe, and has lots to do within walking distance… coffee shops, parks, it is really a great part of town. The Minneapolis/Saint Paul area was just named the #1 city in the US for biking… paths and trails everywhere. And Minnesota is known as the land of 10,000 lakes. In fact, I spent my weekend at a beautiful lake just across the Mississippi River.
Jesuit Novitiate?!? What is that? Keith, I’m confused! Okay, well, all of you at least know that for some time I was a candidate for the Jesuits. I applied back in 2009, and here I am after a year and a half of delay and discernment. (It was a stressful year, but definitely a year of graces working at St. John’s Jesuit in Toledo, Ohio, and making some new wonderful friends and colleagues that helped me through a challenging year, along with my family.) I was accepted to the Jesuits this summer, and I entered on August 28, 2010. The Jesuit Novitiate is where the Jesuit Novices live. It is the first stage of formation in the Jesuit process. I’ll explain the process better in a few moments. However, the Jesuit Novitiate is a lot like the beginning of Seminary. In fact, that is probably the best way to describe it. During my 2 years here at the Novitiate in Saint Paul, it will be full of study, service, and prayer. Studying: I have already started classes on Church History and Religious Life, in addition to studying the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Oh yeah, and I’ve started learning Spanish! Service: I just found out that my ministry will be at John Paul II School, a Catholic elementary school in downtown Minneapolis (10-12 hours a week this semester), I will probably be teaching grade school theology and helping out around the school. Novitiate will also include an “experiment” of hospital ministry and elderly care, along with other “experiment” experiences. Prayer: We start every day with Mass and end our day with Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours, throughout the day are other times for quiet personal prayer. We also do an Examen as a form of prayer to reflect on God in our lives and how we saw “God in all things” throughout our day.
What are the Jesuits? The Jesuits were formed by St. Ignatius of Loyola in 1534. Jesuits are a religious order. They are different than diocesan priests that run local parishes. The best way to describe a religious order is a group of religious with a specific religious devotion. Here are some examples of religious orders. Monks focus on cloistered prayer in monasteries such as the Trappists and Cistercians. Friars are well known like the Franciscans and Dominicans, but unlike monks, friars have an active public ministry in some way. What attracted me to the Jesuits is their focus on education. As you know, I went to St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, a Jesuit school. The Jesuits run 28 colleges and universities in the United States along with 46 high schools, and hundreds more worldwide. Another interesting thing about religious orders is that they usually live in “community.” What that means is that the Jesuits, like this Novitiate, we all live in a community together, we share common items. This is different than a parish priest who might own his own car or computer, here at the novitiate, the Jesuits own 8 cars and 8 computers, which all 21 Novices share.
What is the Jesuit Novitiate like? Where do you live? The Jesuit Novitiate, as I will describe in a moment, is 2 years long. The Jesuits that have entered with me are from 3 Provinces (Provinces are regions setup by the Jesuits across the country); the 3 Provinces are the Detroit Province (which I am in, this is northern-Ohio guys, along with all of Michigan), there are also guys from the Chicago Province (southern Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois); and the Wisconsin Province (Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, North & South Dakota, and Wyoming). In past years, as numbers of “novices” (think “seminarians”) have sadly dwindled, they have grouped guys together from various Provinces. Having 1 Novitiate helps save money not having 3 separate Novitiates, separate buildings, cars, etc.
We have bikes we can all use, TV rooms to relax in, a wonderful library in the house, even some DVDs. The best way to describe it is a lot like a college dorm. Upstairs we each have our own room with a twin bed, closet, desk, bookshelf, and even a sink in our room. There are a few common bathrooms and shower areas.
The kitchen is HUGE, bigger than Rachel Ray’s kitchen! But then again, I guess it needs to be to feed 24 guys. We have a cook, Meaghan, she is really nice and makes great food. She cooks dinner for us Monday through Friday, and we are on our own for breakfast and lunch, and we all take turns cooking dinner on the weekends. I was cook this past Sunday! I made Carmel Apple Pork Chops, yummy! Meaghan owns her own catering business; her food is delicious, but rich! I’ll have to be careful there! I don’t want to tack on too many 
extra pounds!
extra pounds!
Because the Novitiate is 2 years, there are also 2nd year guys here (11 of them) and my 1st year class has 10. The guys range in age from a 20 year-old who hasn’t finished his undergrad yet and a 51 year-old Doctor who had a private practice and worked in a hospital for many years. My “Guardian Angel” (kind of like a “big brother”) is from Toledo, Ohio. He went to the St. John’s Jesuit rival high school, St. Francis de Sales. I tease him and say he finally “saw the light” and came to the Jesuits. Haha.
Why the Jesuits? As I mentioned earlier, I like how the Jesuits focus on education. As you know, education has always been a major part of my life in various forms, so this was one of the biggest influences on my decision. However, the Jesuits also take a 4th vow (in addition to poverty, chastity, and obedience) which other orders do not take. The 4th vow is a vow of obedience in mission work. I also like the aspect of Jesuit life as I mentioned that is “community,” living with other Jesuits with a shared mission. As a Jesuit, we would usually not be placed in a diocesan parish, unless the bishop needed assistance and asked for Jesuits to help run a parish. However, there are more and more Jesuit parishes across the country, like Gesu in University Heights, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. But overall, Jesuits are usually missioned to schools and service work.
What is the Jesuit Formation Process? As I mentioned, I will be here at the Jesuit Novitiate in Saint Paul for 2 years, however the entire Jesuit formation process (again, think seminary) is about 11 years long. You might think that is a really long time, seeing diocesan priests average 7 years of seminary, therefore I will spell out for you what the next 11 years of my life will be like…
Novitiate (2 years) – This one I’ve already started to describe… lots of study, prayer, and service. However, here is a bit more information about what my next 2 years will be like. The novitiate is where novices begin to learn through experience about the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience as lived in a community setting. We learn the traditions, rules and expectations of the Society of Jesus. In January of this coming year, I will make the Spiritual Exercises, which is a 30-day silent retreat (formed by St. Ignatius) up in Gloucester, Massachusetts, this is said to be one of the most “formative” experiences of the Novitiate. As mentioned, over the next 2 years I will be serving the poor, the elderly and teaching children. In the spring, I will do a “short experiment” which will give me service experience somewhere in the country, possibly a hospice or care facility. Then I will take a 30-day pilgrimage. I will spend the majority of next summer studying the Jesuits in Denver, Colorado. The 2nd year of novitiate life is comprised of more ministry, studies, and a “long experiment” which will be the entire semester of my 2nd year. At the end of my two-year period of prayer, work and study, I will spend the 2nd summer in Peru. Followed by pronouncing perpetual “first” vows, the vow ceremony would take place in mid-August of 2012.
First Studies (3 years) – Sometimes called “Philosophy Studies”, after Novitiate I will go onto First Studies, which will be a master’s degree in philosophy along with some Theology classes. This will take place at either Loyola University in Chicago, St. Louis University in St. Louis, or Fordham University in New York City.
Regency (3 years) – Following First Studies, a Jesuit will often be missioned to a long-term assignment to serve in an apostolic work of the Society. In high schools, universities, in parishes, or in other works, the young Jesuit gains experience and skills for later ministry, will continuing to discern the call to priestly ordination.
Theology Studies (3 years) – Seeing a Jesuit has already done one year of theology during First Studies, they now need to do three more years of Theology study to fulfill the Church’s four-year requirement for priestly ordination. Most men will complete the Master of Divinity degree. In addition to studies, during this time, I will continue to give 6-8 hours a week to ministry and service. Theology is usually studied at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry in Boston or Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley in California.
It is near this time in a Jesuit’s formation that a Jesuit is ordained. However, this does not conclude a Jesuit’s “formation.” Three to five years after ordination, a Jesuit undergos Tertianship, which is a repetition of life similar to the Novitiate, including the 30-day retreat, but in light of the many years of Jesuit ministry that have already been served. This reconnects the Jesuit with the original grace which led him into the Society of Jesus and prepares him for the invitation to final (or solemn) vows, in which he will become fully and finally incorporated into the Jesuits.
Whew!!! So you see, the Jesuit formation is a process, a VERY long process. However, I don’t see it as simply a process with a means to and end. Instead, the Jesuit formation itself seems to be a wonderful experience.
Let me get back to the basics… the Novitiate… My time here in the Novitiate is aimed at continued prayer and continuing my discernment process, to make sure this is what God wants me to do, and what I feel called to do with my life. Life here is great, I am making friends, and I like the community and the city. Well, I haven’t experienced a Minnesota winter yet, so we will see about that one in a few months; however, it is already starting to get cold! The house is right next door to a beautiful church, St. Thomas More! (coincidence?!? There are never coincidences with God.) Yes, just like my “home” parish and grade school, St. Thomas More in Brooklyn will always hold a special place in my heart. St. Thomas More here is nice, a large classical, gothic church. I have already offered to help with music in the church; however, more importantly, I have been the main person in charge of organizing music here at “home” for our house/Novitiate. We have Mass every day, but only use instruments on Friday. I formed a “guitar Mass!” I have recruited 2 guitars, and last week we added harmonica. One guy plays the banjo, so I’m looking forward to trying to incorporate that. Tomorrow we are doing our first song with the organ; it is only a keyboard organ, but it should add a nice feel to our liturgy.
Speaking of which, I already told you about our cars, bikes, computers, kitchen, my room, etc. But I left off a few items about the house that I really like… such as the chapel. This “house” used to be the old convent for St. Thomas More next door till the nuns moved out and the Jesuits bought the building. The chapel is beautiful; it is an amazing prayer space. I included some great building pictures on the last page for you to see. There is a picture of our recreation room, living room, “upper room”, classroom, and a picture of all the novices here with me along with the 3 staff members.
Well, I should end this letter. Sorry it is so long! However, I hope to keep you updated on my process. Please feel free to keep in touch with me. My email is still KeithIgnatiusKozak@gmail.com and you can drop me an email anytime if you’d like. I no longer have a cell phone (which is a HUGE change for me, one that I feel is a nice release from the stress of technology.) However, I can call and receive calls on our house phone. Our phone number is (651) 224-5593 so please feel free to call me (between 9AM-9PM CENTRAL time, which is Eastern time MINUS 1 hour, so 8AM-8PM EASTERN). I have a voicemail box, so please leave a message! [For those of you storing my numbers in your cell phone, if you’d like me to show up on caller ID when I call you, we have 3 phone lines in the house. If you call me on that main number (651-224-5593), all calls will roll over to the next available phone line. However, I know some of you want to put all 3 of my numbers into your phone so that when I call, my name will appear on caller ID. Therefore, you can add these 2, but don’t use them to call me on, but I might be calling you on them. They are 651-224-5594 and 651-224-5595.]Finally, you can also send me a note or letter by mail, ha, you know, the old fashion way?!?!
My address is:
1035 Summit Ave.
Saint Paul, MN 55105-3034.
I look forward to speaking with you personally very soon. I enjoyed taking the time to explain all this to you, and hope to fill you in on more events as my formation continues. Again, thank you for all your prayers and support; I will continue to pray for you, too. God Bless!
Peace,
Keith Ignatius Kozak, nSJ
More Novitiate Pictures
