The Detroit Jesuit Community

A Community Always Seeking God's Will
The Detroit Jesuit Community resides on two campuses: in Lansing-Reilly Hall on the McNichols Campus of Detroit Mercy and also in the Jesuit Residence at UD Jesuit High School. Here is where Jesuits live as friends in the Lord at the service of mission. Because our fraternal bonds proclaim the Gospel, our community itself is a mission. In this community Jesuits live out their vocation, serving in six works sponsored by the Society of Jesus: UD Mercy, UD Jesuit High School, Loyola High School, Gesu Parish, SS Peter and Paul Parish, and the Pope Francis Center. Currently, the Jesuit community in the Lansing-Reilly Hall Residence consists of 17 Jesuit priests, one Jesuit brother, two Jesuit scholastics (students) while three priests reside elsewhere for the benefit of their apostolic work. Though some Jesuits serve as faculty and staff at the University, others are parish priests, addiction counselors, retreat directors, development officers, spiritual directors, seminary professors, social workers, homeless relief providers and immigrant/migrant advocates. Another six Jesuits (four priests and two brothers) reside at UD Jesuit High School."
Our collaboration with the laity at Detroit Mercy and in Detroit, flows from our personal relationships with Christ. We see ourselves as companions of Jesus, and we invite others to join us as friends in the Lord. Together, we build up the body of Christ. With our friends and partners, we also reach out to a broadly diverse world because that is where we find God. From experience and reflection, we know meaning, value and divine purpose can be discovered "in all things.
"The real measure of our Jesuit universities,
lies in who our students become."
—Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J. former superior general of the Society of Jesus
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The Jesuit Community
Rev. Jeffrey Dorr, S.J. graduate student of social work at the University of Michigan, campus ministry at University of Detroit Mercy
Rev. Patrick Dorsey, S.J. assistant for major gifts and special projects in the UDM Advancement Office
Rev. Mark George, S.J. Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) and weekend pastoral supply
Rev. Si Hendry, S.J. director, Catholic Studies Program; teacher, religious studies and philosophy; coordinator, 19th annotation retreats for faculty and administrators at University of Detroit Mercy
Rev. Tim Hipskind, S.J. co-director, Institute for Leadership and Service; director, Service Learning at University of Detroit Mercy
Br. Dick Hittle, S.J. certified addictions counselor; writer for "Human Development" a publication of Guest House
Rev. Steven Hurd, S.J. retreat/spiritual director and director of Internship in Ignatian Spirituality, Manresa Jesuit Retreat House
Rev. Romain Kazadi, S.J. graduate student of engineering in the UDM College of Engineering and Science
Mr. James Kamau, S.J. graduate student of engineering in the UDM College of Engineering and Science
Rev. Justin Kelly, S.J. associate professor of religious studies, University of Detroit Mercy
Rev. Tim McCabe, S.J. executive director, Pope Francis Center
Rev. Tom McClain, S.J. superior of Detroit Jesuit Community (Lansing Reilly Residence, UD Jesuit Residence)
Rev. Joel Medina, S.J. Hispanic ministry; chaplain at Henry Ford and Trinity Health
Mr. Cleophas Odinga, S.J. graduate student in the UDM School of Architecture
Rev. Lorn Snow, S.J. pastor, Gesu Parish
Rev. Don Vettese, S.J. pastoral and spiritual ministries, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, St. John Providence Hospital in Novi and Washtenaw County Jail; consultant, Not-for-Profit Advancement
Rev. Gary Wright, S.J. pastor, Saints Peter and Paul Jesuit Church
Jesuit Residence at UD Jesuit High School and Academy
Dr. James Boynton, S.J. president of UD Jesuit High School and Academy
Daniel Kennedy, S.J. assistant to the president, graduate student in counseling at John Carroll University
Benard Omondi, S.J. graduate student in education at Creighton University, campus ministry at UD Jesuit
Trevor Rainwater, S.J. teacher of theology and campus/sacramental ministry at UD Jesuit, residence coordinator
Matthew Wooters, S.J. vocation promoter for the UMI Jesuit Province
Robert Ytsen, S.J. teacher of British Literature at UD Jesuit, retreat and spiritual director at Manresa Retreat House, pastoral ministry
Jesuit Residence at UD Manresa Jesuit Retreat House
Rev. Leo Cachat, S.J. retreat and spiritual director
Rev. Fran Daly, S.J. retreat and spiritual director, director of tertians
Rev. Robert Flack, S.J. retreat and spiritual director
Rev. Peter Fennessy, S.J. retreat and spiritual director, house superior
Rev. Robert Scullin, S.J. retreat and spiritual director, pastoral ministry
Members of this Community Residing Elsewhere
Rev. James Hug, S.J. chaplain, Adrian Dominican Sisters
Rev. Peter Ryan, S.J. professor of moral theology, Sacred Heart Major Seminary; director, College Spiritual Formation
Rev. Cy Whitaker, S.J. professor and spiritual director of seminarians, College of Theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary
Additional Staff
Mrs. Ruth Fichter bookkeeper and guestmaster
Mrs. Pat Havern R.N. health care coordinator
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Jesuit Residence Location
Home of the Jesuit Community
University of Detroit Mercy
Lansing-Reilly Hall
4001 W. McNichols Road
Detroit, MI 48221-3038 -
Universal Apostolic Priorities
Universal Apostolic Preferences are the fruit of a process of discernment lasting almost two years. All Jesuits were invited to take part and in addition our mission partners. It concluded with a confirmation from Pope Francis in a special meeting with Fr General Arturo Sosa. The Preferences give a horizon, a point of reference to the whole Society of Jesus. They capture our imaginations and awaken our desires. They unite us in our mission. The new Preferences are four areas vital for our world today. The Society of Jesus will pay special attention to them in the next ten years. We invite you to learn more and take action with us! We want to make a Gospel difference.
- Showing the way to God: Show the way to God through the Spiritual Exercises and discernment.
- Walking with the Excluded: Walk with the poor, the outcasts of the world, those whose dignity has been violated, in a mission of reconciliation and justice.
- Journeying with the Youth: Accompany young people in the creation of a hope-filled future.
- Caring for our Common Home: Collaborate, with Gospel depth, for the protection and renewal of God’s Creation.
To learn more about our Universal Apostolic Priorities, visit the global Jesuit website.
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Links to Jesuit Works in Detroit
Do You Have a Calling to Serve Christ?
Pray. Discern. Imagine.
The Society of Jesus is the largest order of priests and brothers in the Catholic Church. Founded almost half a millennium ago by the soldier-turned-mystic, St. Ignatius of Loyola, along with the First Companions, Jesuits seek to "find God in all things." Jesuit priests and brothers are involved in educational, pastoral and spiritual ministries around the world, practicing a faith that promotes justice.
As Jesuits, we observe and engage the sensitive movements of God within us and we learn to make decisions that reflect God's will. For over 450 years, the Jesuits have served at the world's frontiers, always working for the greater glory of God.
2023-24 Detroit Jesuit Community Photo
First row (Left to right) — Bob Scullin, Matt Wooters, Tim Hipskind, Gary Wright, Pat Kelly, Justin Kelly
Second row (Left to right) — Jeff Dorr, Mark George, Owino Odinga, Trevor Rainwater, Steve Hurd, Fran Daly, Romain Kazadi, Peter Fennessey, Lorn Snow, Dan Kennedy, Joel Medina, Patrick Dorsey, Dick Hittle, Bob Ytsen, Benard Omondi, Don Vettese, Si Hendry, Tim McCabe, Tom McClain, James Kamau
Missing from photo: Jim Boynton, Cy Whitaker, Peter Ryan, Jim Hug