Grand Coteau To Increase In Size

Jesuits to create combined formation program
by Jean M. Schildz, Review Staff Writer

The Missouri and New Orleans Provinces of the Society of Jesus are working together to create within the next year a united formation program. When completed, the joint effort will result in a combined novitiate. It is expected to be up and running August 2009. The new novitiate will be in Grand Coteau, La., the present site of the novitiate in the New Orleans Province.

Jesuit Father David L. Fleming, now formation assistant to the provincial of the Missouri Province, is working with Jesuit Father John Armstrong, formation assistant for the New Orleans Province, to oversee the development of a combined program. As of Jan. 1, Father Armstrong will become the single formation assistant to the provincials in the Missouri and New Orleans provinces.

The two provinces will continue their existing formation programs under his direction. He will oversee all the men in formation. Jesuit Father Mark Thibodeaux of the New Orleans Province will be novice director. Jesuit Father Dan White of the Missouri Province will be assistant novice director. The New Orleans Province has 45 men in formation. The Missouri Province has 22; four men from the Missouri Province were ordained this past June.

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Photo is of the Jesuit cemetery at Grand Coteau
More links on Grand Coteau (here) , (here) and (here)