Meet the New Director of Faith Formation!

Welcome Pablo Jimenez! Pablo comes to us most recently from working as a communications coordinator at the CUNY Mexican Studies Institute and is pursuing a Master of Divinity at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in Berkeley. Learn more about Pablo in this short interview! 

What about your background helped you prepare for this opportunity?

Being a catechist in 2nd grade at St. Francis Xavier in Manhattan transformed my life and helped me discover my vocation as a religious educator. Being part of the OCIA team for three years and leading the youth ministry provided me with a broad perspective of the needs and challenges of religious education and Ignatian spirituality. Also, working at an organization called Thrive For Life, I prepared retreats for women and men behind bars, as well as for their families and friends. This led me deeper into the Jesuit charism, and I learned to adapt it to different contexts, and further integrate it into my own spiritual journey.

Why is Faith Formation so important?

We love what we know! Loving God—opening oneself to God’s love—is only possible when we develop a relationship with him. Faith formation is especially crucial for children, because responding to situations we encounter as adults requires tools we learn at a young age. Formation during a lifelong journey of discipleship, of friendship with Jesus, allows us to live as faithful Catholics in the world throughout our lives. The journey never stops.