Ready to build bridges

Fadi Aboulesaad, S.J., a student in the School of Theology and Ministry’s Master of Arts in Transformational Leadership program, was ordained into the Order of the Diaconate this month at the Chapel of St. Ignatius.

Ordination to the diaconate is the last step before priestly ordination in the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).

After Aboulesaad graduates from the Transformational Leadership program in June, he will return to his home country Egypt, where he co-founded “Point of Light,” an interfaith retreat for Muslims and Christians to offer a safe space for shared spiritualty. 

“I believe that our studies at the School of Theology and Ministry have changed our lives forever, and we are not able to be indifferent anymore, but peacemakers and agents of change,” says Aboulesaad. “I feel ready to go back to Egypt, stand with those who fight for freedom, dignity and social justice. I will carry with me all that I have learned here and all the love that I have received. My hope is to build bridges between communities and share not only religions, but different cultures.”

In above photo from left to right: Tito Cruz (STM Associate Dean of Academic Affairs), Dung Tran (faculty NCS), Carla Orlando (MATL professional coach), Joe Orlando (Director of the Center for Jesuit Education), Fadi Aboulesaad (Jesuit MATL student from Egypt) and Frank Savadera (Jesuit DMin student from the Philippines).

- School of Theology and Ministry