“The Society of Jesus has helped me put language to my experience of God, and that language in turn has formed me to see myself, others and God in new, sometimes strange ways.”
Will serve as associate pastor at Gesu Catholic Church and the other Jesuit Family of Parishes in Detroit, along with practice in clinical social work.
Christopher Alt, SJ, was raised in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, by his parents Ed and Mary, along with his two older sisters, Jennifer and Chelsea. He has fond memories of his Catholic education and worshiping with his family at the Newman Center at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, where the seed of his vocation was nourished and he first learned to sing. He recalls the sense he got as a kid going to those Masses: “Though I couldn’t have articulated like this at the time, I got the strong notion that whatever was happening there and whoever was helping to make those kinds of experiences possible, I knew I wanted to be a part of that for the rest of my life.” In high school Christopher was given the book “The Fifth Week” by William O’Malley, SJ. It only took him 10 years to read it. In the meantime, he attended the University of San Diego and, later, Boston College, where he met the Jesuits. After graduation, he did stints as a homeless shelter house coordinator and a hospital chaplain, and then, after a 20+ year approach-avoidance complex regarding his vocation, he finally took the leap and joined the Society of Jesus in 2016.
Bachelor’s degree, theological and religious studies, University of San Diego; Master of Divinity, Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry; Master’s degree, social work, Loyola University Chicago; Licentiate in Sacred Theology, Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara UniversityAfter two energizing, whirlwind years in the novitiate, including making lifelong friendships and ministering in the New York City prison system with Thrive For Life Prison Project, he took first vows — one of the best days of his life. In 2018 Christopher moved to Chicago and earned a Master of Social Work at Loyola University Chicago. From there, he was missioned as a school counselor to Christ the King Jesuit College Preparatory (CTK) on Chicago’s West Side. The initial dread of the thought of working with teenagers quickly evaporated as he encountered the amazing students at CTK. Christopher then moved to Berkeley, California, where he is completed a Licentiate of Sacred Theology in Christian Spirituality at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University, served as a deacon and choir member at St. Benedict’s in Oakland, and continued his professional development as a licensed clinical social worker. After ordination he will return to the Midwest Province and split his time between serving in a parish and practicing clinical social work.
Bachelor’s degree, theological and religious studies, University of San Diego; Master of Divinity, Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry; Master’s degree, social work, Loyola University Chicago; Licentiate in Sacred Theology, Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University