Fr. Jim Von Tobel, S.J.

My name is Fr. Jim Von Tobel, now at the age of 72 yrs and a Jesuit for 54 years, having entered the Society of Jesus at the age of 18.

My vocation journey began in my senior year of high school.  On a senior retreat at Manresa Retreat House, one of my teachers at University of Detroit High School, Mr. McPartland, told us that few of us would be called to the priesthood or religious life.  He told us that as Catholics, we should at least pray about this and ask in prayer if this is something that the Lord would want us to consider.

I thought this was an honest request and did take the matter to prayer.  It turned out to be what I would call a “foundational experience”, that is something so real that it in fact sustained me for many years and kept me in  the direction I chose with the guidance of the Spirit.

What was to happen seemed more invitational than anything else, God saying to me, if what you really want is to have a life that is not only good for you but for others, then entering religious life is what would be best for you. 

"I took this step in faith..."

Like Mary, feeling this was a genuine encounter with God, I had many questions.  First of all, my faith was not strong enough to “go it alone” and thus envisioning a community where other men would share in and support this calling seemed absolutely essential.  I felt it was confirmed that I was correct in this assumption.  Secondly, I had enough self knowledge to know my own immaturity.  I was socially more comfortable being alone or in small groups and very uncomfortable in large groups.  Also, I did not have a great deal of confidence in my ability to do anything of significance and felt threatened by what I had seen of the Jesuits who taught me and their history.  I felt that I was probably not ready to enter, but feeling God’s invitation was genuine, despite it all, I took this step in faith.

There were many obstacles, but one by one they were removed or overcome and I entered the Jesuits in 1954.  This sense of God’s direction on this choice sustained me over many years…it always was judged by me to be genuine when issues arose.

My mission in the Society has led me to be a “Jack of All Trades, Master of None“ sort of person.  Or to use a sport’s analogy, a utility player, who though not necessarily an “everyday player” at any one position, none the less ends up playing often and in many positions because the front line people get hurt and are not available.  Among other things, I’ve been a vocation director, novitiate staff person, high school teacher and principal, retreat director, assistant to two Provincials, Associate Pastor, Pastor, and currently, Development Director as we prepare to integrate three provinces into one.

My conviction remains: if we want to find a mission in life that is more about service of others than ourselves, if we chose to consult the Lord, God will show us the way.  I am convinced that our personal salvation and our purpose and mission of service in life are intimately connected.  Happiness, success, and job satisfaction occur in life but are not always possible to attain, however, the peace that comes from knowing God in Christ walks with us on our journey is possible and is the most  important experience as we discern the path we are to take in life. 

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