West Coast Compañeros

COMPANIONS
**The official web page of**
**WEST COAST COMPAÑEROS, INC**
**(A California Nonprofit Religious Corporation)**

*For more about the Church itself:* *The Vatican on-line* *More Links to Catholic Sources* *For more about what is happening with the Society today:* *SJ WEB, Connecting Jesuits and Friends Around the World* *The Western Province Homepage* *The National Jesuit Conference* *The Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities* *America Magazine online* *JesuitUSA News Archives* *For information on efforts to end the School of the Americas, which has trained many of the men in the death squads operating in Central and South America, go to SOA Watch.* *For other material of special interest:* *Taking the Exercises to the World (a manual for lay people)* IN MEMORIAM The Companions mourn the passing of the activist and visionary who undertook the task of calling us together many years ago. We hope to maintain his legacy, not least of which has been the reminder that we remain Jesuits at heart.

Who are the Companions? All present and former Jesuits are invited to come to our annual February reunions in Santa Cruz, and many share their thoughts in the often spirited debates on our listserv.

Bernie Cassidy, SJ, Juanita Cordero and the choir lead the Saturday
afternoon liturgy at the 2010 Santa Cruz reunion

NEW:
William O'Connell: oral history of his time at Alma College
April Halberstadt is a family friend and an historian for Santa Clara County. She has worked diligently with the Peninsula Open Space people to preserve knowledge of the Jesuit presence at Alma. . . . Before his death, April and her husband, Hans, interviewed William about his "Alma Experience." In the interview, William mentions several events and places that were dear to many of Compañeros.
Photos of the 2014 reunion of the California Province entering classes of 1963, 1964, and 1965

See photos from the entering class of 1960 reunion

For more photos of past reunions:
Santa Cruz, 2004
BBQ at Sacred Heart Center 2004
Santa Cruz, 2005
BBQ at Sacred Heart Center 2005
Santa Cruz, 2006
Santa Cruz, 2007
Sheridan, 2007
Santa Cruz, 2008
Santa Cruz, 2009
See photos from our 2010 reunion
See photos from our 2011 reunion

for other memorabilia ("the way we were")

There are no dues or other formalities, although we are now organized as a non-profit corporation with a board of directors. In addition, many of our number actively continue their personal study of Ignatian spirituality. Currently we are reaching out to all those who were ever part of the California and Oregon provinces, and if you or someone you know is a former Jesuit we would value your contacting us. (Click here for more information.)

**CLICK HERE FOR OUR PUBLICATIONS PAGE FEATURING BOOKS AND ARTICLES BY COMPANIONS**

Webmaster recommendations:

Unexpected Company: Former Jesuits Talk About Their Lives

Intimate Meanderings: Conversations Close to Our Hearts

Transitions in the Lives of Jesuits and Former Jesuits

**Jubilee booklet honoring Jim Straukamp**

**For more about the Companions (WCCI)**

**Projects connected with or supported by the Companions**

portrait by Robert K. Semans
The ideal of "para otros" (for others) that was so much part of the teaching of Father General Arrupe has continued to inspire Companions to assist in a number of efforts to make this a better world.
Click on any of the following links for more about our efforts.

**The Pacific Institute for Community Organizing (PICO)**

**The Loyola Institute for Spirituality**

Learn about MATRACA, a Jesuit project to help the kids of one Mexican city.
To contact Matraca by email, click here.
Also, learn more about Vivir Joven, another project to assist street kids in Mexico

**See a photo of the new buildings at Rutilio Grande in El Salvador, another Companions project**

Check the University of California website for more about *Passionate Uncertainty*,
the book about us by Peter McDonough and Eugene Bianchi

Archived editions of JUST GOOD COMPANY