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Dear Parishioners of St. Patrick’s and Our Lady of Guadalupe,
Before I became a Jesuit, I was thriving on Chicago’s north side teaching high school theology, coaching baseball, and surrounded by a close circle of friends. I loved my life and felt I was making a real impact, helping students discover deeper meaning and purpose.
But the call to become a Jesuit and a priest never left me. It tugged at my heart, quietly but persistently. I found myself at a crossroads. Should I continue teaching, coaching, dating, and eventually start a family? Or should I enter the Society of Jesus and follow the call to priesthood?
It was one of the hardest choices I’ve ever faced not a decision between good and bad, but between two goods. And those, as you may know, are the hardest to discern.
Have you ever faced such a decision? Are you standing at that kind of threshold now?
This July, I’ll be offering a dynamic five-week workshop on Ignatian Spirituality and Discernment. Together, we’ll explore how to recognize God’s invitations, especially when choosing between two meaningful paths. We’ll learn how to commit to a decision and deepen it so that our choices lead to greater freedom, love, and life.
Rooted in the wisdom of St. Ignatius of Loyola, this isn’t just a class it’s an invitation to transformation.
I am truly excited to be with all of you this summer. I look forward to sharing more of my story, getting to know you, and teaching the spirituality that has shaped my life. Together, let’s seek deeper peace and fuller life by choosing what brings us closer to God and to one another.
See you on Wednesdays at OLG at 6:45pm beginning July 2nd .
Blessings in Christ,
Fr. Phil Cooke, sj
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