Jesuit Formation prepares men to become priests and brothers who are well educated, trained in the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius.
The formation of a Jesuit is a journey that can last more than fifteen years
No ministry which prepares the way for the Kingdom or which helps arouse faith in the Gospel is outside the scope of Jesuit priests and brothers.

The formation of a Jesuit is a journey that can last more than fifteen years and encompasses ten key stages:

  • One YearPatna

    Candidacy

    Rigorous language coaching and basic faith formation
  • One YearPatna

    Pre-Novitiate

    Language training, community life & faith formation
  • Two YearsLucknow

    Novitiate

    Prayer, Community Life, Eucharist, Experiments, Spiritual Exercise, First Vows
  • One YearBombay, Calcutta

    Juniorate

    Advanced Language Training - English & Hindi
  • Three YearsChennai, Ahmadabad, Ranchi, Mangalore, Mumbai

    College Studies

    Regular scholastic endeavour
  • Two YearsChennai, Pune

    Philosophy

    Two years of ecclesiastical study of philosophy
  • Two YearsWithin the Province

    Regency

    Work with the fellow Jesuits in the Jesuit ministry places
  • Four YearsDelhi

    Theology

    Four years of ecclesiastical Theology studies and ORDINATION
  • Six MonthsKodaikanal, Kandy, Hazaribagh

    Tertianship

    Second Novitiate, Spiritual Exercises, Experiments, Revisiting the Society's documents
  • INCORPORATED INTO THE SOCIETY OF JESUS

    Final Vows

The Jesuits have a long period of training of about 14 years this includes both spiritual and academic studies as well as other professional trainings. These men under training are called Scholastics. They study in different parts of India primarily in the Jesuit colleges of Bombay, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Jharkhand. Some of them are pursuing their post graduate studies in Delhi and elsewhere.