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About
the Province |
What is a Province? |
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The Society of Jesus, which was founded in Rome in 1540 by St. Ignatius Loyola, is the largest order of Catholic priests and brothers in the world. There are roughly 20,000 Jesuits currently serving on six continents and in 127 nations. Jesuits around the world are organized into 91 Provinces. The Provinces are grouped into 11 regional "assistancies." The United States Assistancy is made up of the 10 provinces is the U.S. (California, Chicago, Detroit, Maryland, Missouri, New Orleans, New England, New York, Oregon, Wisconsin). Each province is headed by a Provincial superior. The Chicago Provincial is Rev. Edward W. Schmidt, SJ. The Provincial Superior is appointed by and reports directly to the Society's General Superior. Fr. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, SJ, currently serves as the Society's Superior General (related link: Partners Magazine Q&A with Fr. General Peter Hans Kolvenbach). He is reponsible for the governance of the Society of Jesus. Authority for governance is transferred locally to Provincials, who are responsible for the care and maintenance of the apostolates and Jesuits in their Province. The Chicago Province is comprised of 230 Jesuits in Greater Chicago, Greater Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Northwest Indiana, and Kentucky. Jesuits from the Chicago Province also serve international ministries in Patna, India, Delhi, India, Nepal, Peru, Japan, and a number of African countries. Chicago Province Jesuits operate two universities, five high schools, one middle school, one grade school, two retreat houses, a not-for-profit publishing enterprise, and a variety of ministries designed to serve the poor and share the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola (related links: List of Province Ministries & Map of Province Ministries). The United States Assistancy is currently considering a variety of options for potential reorganization of the 10 U.S. Provinces. Additional information about this process is available at the website of the U.S. Assistancy (which is also referred to as the Jesuit Conference).
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