The Detroit Jesuit Community

The Detroit Jesuit Community, featuring more than two dozen people sitting and standing inside of a church.

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

    The physical building of Lansing-Reilly Hall

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    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.

    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