It was a sense of community that convinced Joe Laramie, S.J., M.Div.’11, S.T.L.’12, to become a Jesuit.

“As an undergraduate at Saint Louis University, I studied philosophy with a number of younger Jesuits,” he recalls. “I was inspired by their way of life—they worked together, prayed together, washed dishes together. The sense of community I felt among them confirmed my call.”

Laramie, who joined the Jesuits in 2000, says he’s found a similar sense of community at the School of Theology and Ministry. “Every Thursday the whole school comes together to celebrate Mass and share lunch,” he says. “Celebrating the Sacrament together, as a community, gives a focal point to our life here.”

At STM, Laramie has been actively involved in community life. Among other responsibilities, he serves as a spiritual director for several undergraduates and as chaplain for Boston College’s undergraduate Pro-Life Club.

“I went with a group of students this year to the Pro-Life March in Washington, D.C.,” says Laramie. “We had a good contingent from Boston College. Jesuits and lay students marched together, carried signs, got to know each other, and shared the mission of standing up for social justice and human rights.”

That sense of community extends to his living arrangements, as well. “The house I live in has eight residents, and we represent five different continents,” he says. “We pray together, have dinner together, share the Jesuit life together—yet everyone brings a unique perspective from their own culture.”

Once he finishes his degree, Laramie expects to go into campus ministry, though he says he’s open to other ideas as well. “Before I came to Boston, I taught theology and public speaking at Regis Jesuit High School in Colorado,” he notes. “Teaching alongside other Jesuits and lay faculty—faithful, dedicated people—was a great experience. Now I’m in class studying alongside Jesuits and lay people who are also smart, dedicated folks. The experience of teaching and studying has confirmed my call to serve Christ as a priest and as a Jesuit.”