The Jesuit Retreat Center of Los Altos

Spiritual Director

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Fr. James Flynn, S.J.
Fr. James Flynn, S.J.

 

Born in 1942 in Los Angeles, CA, Fr. Jim attended St. Charles Grammar School in North Hollywood. After graduating from Bishop Garcia Diego High School in Santa Barbara in 1960, he matriculated at Santa Clara University. On September 8, 1961, he entered the Society of Jesus at Los Gatos.

After the normal course of training at Los Gatos, Fr. Jim majored in philosophy and English at Gonzaga University, graduating in 1967. He taught at Loyola High School, Los Angeles from 1967-1970, and after theological studies at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, he graduated with an M.Div. in 1973. He was ordained a priest on June 15, 1973. That same year he completed a Master's Degree in English at Loyola University, Los Angeles.

The next 12 years Fr. Jim worked in administration in Jesuit secondary education: Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs at Loyola High School, Los Angeles, Campus Minister (1967-81) and Principal (1981-85) at Jesuit High School, Sacramento. After a sabbatical year at the Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, MA, he pursued graduate studies at Andover Newton Theological School in Newton Centre, MA. His concentration was Ignatian Spirituality and American Jesuit Higher Education: how to maintain the Ignatian character of the institutions with fewer and fewer Jesuits. He graduated with a Doctor of Ministry degree in 1989.

For the next six years Fr. Jim served as Assistant to the President for University Mission at the University of San Francisco. After a year as the Director of Spiritual Formation at the diocesan seminary in San Diego, he went to Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix. For the past 11 years he has ministered as a counselor to students and a spiritual director for faculty and staff, also serving for the past nine years as the religious superior for the Jesuit Community.

Fr. Jim comes to the Jesuit Retreat Center from a sabbatical year in the Northwest. He serves as religious superior for the Jesuit Community and ministers on the Pastoral team.

Retreats Fr. Flynn is directing this season:

Assisting: