70 Years a Jesuit in 2025

Father Thomas Jost, SJ, this year celebrates 70 years as a Jesuit. Through his decades of Jesuit ministry, Fr. Jost has served as an educator and pastoral minister in schools and Jesuit communities in Colorado, Belize, Kansas City and St Louis.

Born in St. Louis, Fr. Jost graduated from St. Louis University High School (SLUH) in 1955 and entered the Jesuit novitiate of St. Stanislaus Seminary in Florissant that same year. Father Jost completed his studies at Saint Louis University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree and licentiate in philosophy, a master’s degree in English and a Master of Divinity.

He returned to SLUH to teach English during his regency, from 1963 to 1965, and again following his priestly ordination in 1968, remaining there until 1973. During the 1970s, Fr. Jost also taught English and religion at Regis Jesuit High School in Denver as well as at St. John’s College in Belize City.

Beginning in 1979, Fr. Jost began serving in pastoral ministry, first as associate pastor at St. Ignatius Loyola Parish in Denver until 1985, and then at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City. In almost a decade at Rockhurst, Fr. Jost assisted with the pastoral program, taught English, and was the superior of the Arrupe House Jesuit community. From 1993 to 1997, he was sacramental minister at Guardian Angels Parish in Kansas City, before returning to Denver to serve as pastor at St. Ignatius Loyola parish from 1997 to 2009.

From 2009 to 2016, Fr. Jost served as a religious superior and pastoral minister for Jesuit communities in Denver and St. Louis. Today, he is missioned to a ministry of prayer for the Church and the Society of Jesus at St. Ignatius Hall, the community of senior Jesuits in Florissant, Missouri. He celebrates Mass for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and Sisters of the Good Shepherd communities in St. Louis.

Fr. Jost’s Reflection on 70 Years as a Jesuit

I am filled with a great sense of gratitude to God as I look back over my 88 years of life and my 70 years as a member of the Society of Jesus. It is clear that the Lord has been with me and has used me in various ways to proclaim His love for all of us and for all of this marvelous creation. At this time in my life, I am experiencing a lot of diminishment, especially of my senses. I depend on glasses to see and hearing aids to hear. But I pray that as these become less useful, the Lord will enable me to see more clearly with the eyes and hear with the ears of my heart. I hope to continue to grow in my knowledge of the Lord and to deepen my love.