Mass of Perpetual Profession

On Friday, September 13th, we celebrated our first all-school liturgy of the year, the Mass of Perpetual Profession for Fr. Dennis Baker, S.J. By witnessing Final Vows in the Society of Jesus, our community participated in a centuries-old tradition of commitment to religious life, as well as a historic moment for Loyola.

In addition to our entire student body and faculty and staff, we were honored by the presence of distinguished guests, including Archbishop William E. Lori (Sixteenth Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Baltimore), Reverend Joseph O’Keefe, S.J. (Principal Celebrant and Provincial of the USA East Province), and a host of concelebrants from across the Society of Jesus and the Archdiocese. We were also delighted to welcome many of Fr. Baker’s friends and family members for this very special occasion.

In the Society of Jesus, the Final Vows hold profound significance, marking the culmination of a Jesuit’s lifelong commitment to the Order and its mission. These vows go beyond the traditional vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience that Jesuits initially take after their novitiate. Final Vows, typically made many years later—and only by invitation from the Superior General—represent a deepened dedication to the Jesuit way of life and a greater responsibility within the Society.