Path to Priesthood Press Release

April 4, 2011

Contact: Tricia Steadman Jump
202-629-5936
media@jesuit.org

Jesuit Invites Viewers to Join Him on His Path to Priesthood
Jesuits New Video Series Gives a Glimpse into Becoming a Priest

(Washington) –A new online video series launches today via YouTube focusing on a Jesuit in the last few months of formation before his ordination to the priesthood. Called “Path to Priesthood”, the series gives viewers an opportunity to follow Jesuit Radmar Jao in the months leading up to his ordination, join his actual ordination ceremony and hear his reflections before his first assignment as a Jesuit priest. Produced by the Jesuit Conference of the United States, the series also offers a collection of weekly “video diaries/vlogs” from Jao himself where he gives his thoughts on the approaching ordination, to what happens in his class, ministry or that day in his community.

“We think people are naturally curious about what the experience of becoming a priest is all about,” said Jesuit Father Robert Ballecer, director of national vocation promotion for the Jesuit Conference. “There are some preconceptions but responding to the call of Christ in this way is unique and one that not many people get to experience for themselves, until now. Our hope with this video series is to give viewers a window into one man’s formation and also to encourage others who might be discerning their own calling to a path to the priesthood.”

Jao, who is currently in his third year of theological studies at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University at Berkeley in California, is preparing for his ordination in June in Spokane, Wash. Formerly an actor, Jao joined the Society of Jesus in 2001. Jao also currently serves as a deacon at St. Agnes Parish in San Francisco.

The series will show both the ups and the downs of Jao’s journey. As he says in the first episode, “this is a time of real grace, real struggle, real joy, real frustration, it just runs the gamut. I would love to say that it’s been nine years of pure bliss but I’d be lying. Because there’s real struggle in this life but you pray through it and you pray with it.”

Every episode and video diary of “Path to Priesthood” will be uploaded onto the Jesuit Conference’s website at www.jesuit.org/p2p and can also be found on YouTube at www.youtube.com/nationaljesuitnews. Viewers will have opportunities to leave comments, post questions and interact with Jao online during the entirety of the series.

“Path to Priesthood” Episode Schedule:
Episode 1 – Introducing Jesuit Radmar Jao – Launch Date: April 4, 2011
This episode introduces viewers to Jesuit Radmar Jao as he prepares for his ordination in June in Spokane, Wash. Simultaneously, Jao is busy completing coursework in theological studies at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University at Berkeley in California. Jao also currently serves as a deacon at St. Agnes Parish in San Francisco. He discusses his background as an actor, his family and how he is preparing for his path to the priesthood.

Video Diaries – April 4 – June 9, 2011
A collection of weekly video diaries introduce viewers to the day-to-day of this Jesuit’s life as he balances his ministry duties with completing his school assignments and also preparing to become a Jesuit priest. These short diaries range from Jao’s thoughts on his approaching ordination, to what happens in his class, ministry or that day in his community.

Live Stream of Ordination in Spokane – June 11. 2011
Viewers can join Jao’s ordination ceremony in Spokane, Wash. on June 11th.

Episode 2 – Ordination – June 15, 2011
This episode is filmed immediately before and during ordination and will focus on Jao with his family and at Jesuit events like the prayer service and reception that take place the night before ordination, as well as pieces of the ordination itself.

Last Episode – After the Pastoral Summer – September 26, 2011
This last episode takes place after Jao’s ordination and before he leaves for his first assignment as a Jesuit priest. Jao reflects on the months between ordination and assignment and his hopes for this new chapter as a newly ordained priest.

An online media kit, including a headshot and bio of Jesuit Radmar Jao, can be found at:
www.jesuit.org/footer/press-room/path-to-priesthood

The Jesuit Conference promotes the common goals and oversees the national and international projects of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in the United States. Based in Washington, D.C., the Jesuit Conference also provides liaison staffing among the ten provinces, various Jesuit-sponsored national associations and the Society’s international headquarters in Rome.

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