I know they’re busy and all, but I promise to give you an hour of my full attention every Sunday (ok, twenty minutes of my FULL attention when you’re giving the homily). Please don’t give me a homily that insults me because it is full of platitudes and spiritualizations which I don’t find useful in my life at all.

The liturgies are also great and well-prepared. One of my most memorable memories of college was seeing so many Jesuits concelebrating for the mass of St. Ignatius. That memory has stuck with me til now. And of course, if you have Hangad, Bukas Palad, C5, and the Barangka Choir sing at your masses, you’re sure to have great music.

4) The Compania. Ignatius called his men “The Compania de Hesus” which in Filipino translates to “Barkada ni Hesus”. The Society, at its core, is really a group of extraordinary friends. This is one of the things I miss the most about the Society. You couldn’t see a more noble, heroic, but funny, abnormal, weird, endearing people than this bunch. I have had the privilege of seeing this up close and personal. You should see them during Villa. You should see them when they’re in the rec room.

I miss the friendships, specially the availability (and ability) of people to talk with a certain level of intelligence and non-judgment. I miss the fun and laughter. When you’re (or you’ve been) a Jesuit, you went through a lot in the Novitiate and in formation. There is a certain power in doing and going through things together that other people will never really understand. It’s like being in a fraternity minus the hazing but ten times the depth of the friendship because it is a friendship built on a common love for people and Christ (with apologies to all my friends who are in fraternities).