On 27 September 1540, Pope Paul III officially approved the Society of Jesus through the bull Regimini militantis Ecclesiae:
“Whoever desires to serve as a soldier of God beneath the banner of the Cross in our Society, which we desire to be designated by the name of Jesus... should keep in mind that he is a member of a community founded chiefly for this purpose: to strive especially for the defense and propagation of the faith and for the progress of souls in Christian life and doctrine.”
In 1538, the companions of Paris, with Ignatius of Loyola as their leader, realized that their plan to go to the Holy Land was not possible. They chose to go to Rome and offer their services to the Pope for the missions he would entrust to them. The following year, Ignatius submitted the Formula of the Institute for his group which he called the “Company of Jesus” – his friends in the Lord. Pope Paul III welcomed it verbally, but it was not until several months later, on 27 September 1540, that his holiness promulgated the bull Regimini militantis Ecclesiae, which recognized and approved the Society of Jesus as a religious order.
May God continue to bless this least Society with vocations for the priesthood and brotherhood so that through his grace we, friends in the Lord, may continue our service in the Church.
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!
From the Lectern
“Give me only your love and your grace. That is enough for me.”: Homily at the Mass of the Final Vows of Fr. Arnel T. Ong SJ
…Atong has learned from Ignatius to beg for only what is enough: “Give me only your love and your grace. That is enough for me.” With that, one can follow wherever Christ leads. Today, Christ says once more: “Come, follow me.” Atong knows much better what it costs. But more importantly, he knows much better…
Living Formation: A Love Letter in Poetry Form
Dear Regency, Even before we met, I tried to control you, With what I thought Was best for my formation. I imagined making better use of myself, Weaving my medical background Into the apostolic ministries of the Society. Yet you resisted, asserted yourself, And revealed that there was Something greater I did not yet see. I yielded out of trust…
A Pilgrimage of Becoming: A Student from Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan Shares His Magis Journey in Taipei
The JCAP MAGIS Youth Gathering in Taiwan led me back to a truth I had long known, yet rarely lived fully. From 26 December 2025 to 3 January 2026, Taiwan became a vibrant crossroads of faith, culture, and companionship as Magis Asia Pacific 2025 unfolded. Organized by the MAGIS Youth Center of the Chinese Province of the Society of Jesus,…
To a Young Man Who Wants to Be a Jesuit
In these fast-changing and sometimes tough times, I feel a deep need to reach out to young people like you, who are thoughtfully considering your future and spiritual journey. As a Jesuit, I have been blessed to experience a profound journey of conversion and an ongoing call to live authentically, all grounded in God’s unconditional love and the mission of the Church. Today, I want to share some thoughts and experiences that might resonate with your own search for meaning and purpose.
COMMON HOME
Laudato Si’ and Integral Ecology 10 Years Later
How did we spend the last 10 years of living Laudato Si’ and integral ecology? Were we trying to listen, trying to learn perhaps, but remaining indecisive for periods, with increased distraction, division, and denial? The main challenge is not a project design—or a technology—but good will in seeking collaboration across silos. Where have we come from? The encyclical Laudato…
THE WINDHOVER
Year XXVIII (2026) Vol 2
Religious formation is a radical reorientation of the whole person - where life is continually shaped in deeper encounter with God, honest awareness of self,…
Universal Apostolic Preferences
The Universal Apostolic Preferences provide a guiding vision for the entire Society of Jesus. They ignite our aspirations and stir our ambitions, fostering unity in our shared mission. These new Preferences encompass four crucial focal points for addressing contemporary global needs. Over the next decade, the Society of Jesus will prioritize these areas, and we extend an invitation for you to delve deeper into them and join us in making a meaningful impact rooted in the Gospel.
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PHI Apostolic Plan 2026-2031
Philippine Jesuits Apostolic Plan 2026–2031 charts the Province’s shared mission for the next five years, rooted in the Spiritual Exercises, the Universal Apostolic Preferences, and the call of the Church to renewed missionary discipleship. Emerging from a Province-wide process of prayer, discernment, and spiritual conversation, the plan identifies four key mission thrusts. More than a strategic framework, it is a tool for ongoing discernment and action, and an invitation to personal and communal renewal, challenging every member, community, and institution to respond creatively to the signs of the times. Grounded in hope and inspired by the Gospel, the plan calls the entire apostolic body to journey together with courage, discernment, and generosity as companions of Jesus in service of the Church and the world.
