“When my journey began, my spirituality was mostly one of ‘new encounters.’ Something real was before me, and I wished to understand what the realness was. And at times, I thought I did. But as time progressed, spirituality became less about understanding and more about entering.”
Will continue with Ph.D. studies in theology at Fordham University while concurrently pursuing a Licentiate in Sacred Theology at Boston College.
Curtis McKenzie, SJ, was born in Saskatoon, Canada, to Gary and Marjorie (nee Setka/Щітка) in 1976. He has a brother who is an optometrist in Edmonton and is married with two children. His paternal family immigrated from Scotland in 1863, first arriving in Montreal, where Alexander McKenzie and his wife Ella Wynne would later settle in Saskatchewan to farm. His maternal family immigrated from Bukovina, Ukraine, via the United States and then north from Montana into Canada. Dmytro Schitka and Anne Wasylenchuk arrived in 1916 with his grandfather Ivan (John), and the family settled near Wakaw, Saskatchewan. Mathew Petraschuk arrived in 1910 with his wife Anne Stoyko. His grandmother Doris was later born in Strong Pine, Saskatchewan. Both of Curtis’ parents were the first in their families to go to university; his father studied agriculture, education and computer science, and his mother studied pharmacy.
In 1998, Curtis graduated with a bachelor’s degree in commerce and later earned his CPA accounting designation in 2001. After undergraduate studies, he spent 18 years in various senior roles: first, with two major Canadian banks; later, with an energy company and a regional airline. In January of 2014, he moved to Assisi, Italy, for a sabbatical. He later arrived in Rome for the canonization of SS. John XXIII and John Paul II, starting work the next day at the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace for Cardinal Peter K.A. Turkson and Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ. In June of 2015, he entered the Society of Jesus. Over the next eight years, he completed several missions abroad while also studying philosophy, psychology and theology. He completed his graduate studies in theology at Regis College and at the Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Institute at the University of Toronto. In 2020, Curtis graduated with a Master of Theological Studies (MTS). In 2022, he graduated with a Bachelor of Sacred Theology and a Master of Divinity. In the spring of 2022, he was missioned to Fordham University to pursue a Ph.D. in Orthodox theology. In the fall of 2023, he was at Boston College for four months to begin a Licentiate in Sacred Theology concurrently.
Curtis leads an active life. In addition to work and studies, he enjoys recreation, music, visiting friends and several other interests. He has moved 28 times and has lived in several cities in Canada, the United States, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Spain, France, Italy, Vatican City and Ukraine. He has also visited more than 30 countries.
Bachelor’s degree, commerce, University of Saskatchewan; Master’s degree, theological studies, University of Toronto; Master of Divinity and Bachelor of Sacred Theology, Regis College, University of Toronto
