What IS a Jesuit+ Interesting Facts

I know that everyone has a different level of familiarity with the Jesuits and might appreciate some resources or basic facts to go off of. Even for myself, having been around Jesuits for the last 10 years, I have had to ask many questions about what these next couple of years will look like. So here is a basic start which i might add on to later on:

1. WHAT IS A JESUIT: The main Jesuit website can be found at http://www.jesuit.org/ Summed up the Jesuits are a Catholic religious order similar to Franciscans or Dominicans. What makes them unique is there rule of St. Ignatius and his philosophy of being "Contemplatives in Action." Dominicans (at one time) were separated from society in monasteries. And Franciscans were completely immersed with the poor and marginalized people. Jesuits are seen to have a balance of the two to maintain their work for God.

2. Favorite spelling attempt of "Jesuit": one of the youth in the parish tried J-E-S-O-W-E-T

3. Least favorite part of the interview process: well, besides waiting a couple of weeks for an answer, I'd say an interview that went 5 hours got a little tedious and tiring at the end.

4. Best part of the interview process: sitting down with experienced Jesuits and colleagues of Jesuits and having some of the best conversations of my life talking about what i love am most passionate about: faith, community, service, vows of chastity, poverty and obedience!

5. Favorite Movie About Jesuits: The Mission, with Robert De Niro winning the 1986 Cannes Film Festival and nominated for 7 Academy Awards.....unforgettable music and story. I highly recommend it!

6. Average timeline for ordination: 9 years

7. Average number of parishioners and people who confusingly think i'll be a priest the day i arrive in Detroit this August: 1 in 4

8. What I am most excited about: having a true sense of direction with a program whose mission captures the core of who i am.

9. What I am most nervous about: since these first two years are light on studies and heavy on traveling, retreats, and community life---will the following years be a hard act to follow! And of course, since i've been spoiled by being around family as much as i could want these last 23 years, it'll be real tough to only come home for Christmas for the first two years.

10. Funniest series of questions asked by some of the youth: Youth: "Will you be allowed to drink?" Me: "Yeah, in moderation of course." Youth: "Is it against the rules to hang out with us like before?" Me: "Haha, yeah of course not." Youth: "So, will you be able to still have fun and stuff as a Jesuit." Me: "Man, i don't know what you think of religious life, but oh yeah it'll be a blast."

11. Most interesting item on the "what to bring and not to bring" list: Cooking--you are encourage to know how to cook several meals as you will be expected to take regular turn at cooking for the community. So thanks mom for teaching me lasagna and chili and katie for the banana bread recipe. Any other good ones?

If this triggers any other questions or comments you may have, PLEASE feel free to let me know.