Jesuit vs. Non-Jesuit churches

Ajuliana

My fiancee and I are both looking for a new church in Sacramento, and the only one I've been to up here, told me they couldn't do pre-cana at all, and we were in the "region" of a Jesuit Catholic Church.  What is the difference, if any, between a Jesuit Church and a non-Jesuit Church?  Where I grew up, I had never heard of it, even though I attended Catholic school K-12.  

Any information would be appreciated, since we are just looking for a Church to call our own up here.

agapecarrie

It's an odd way of putting it, but usually, that means that a Jesuit order of priests is staffing the parish rather than the secular diocesan priests. 

I find this odd though, because Jesuits are usually involved in the academic side of things, so they are normally stationed at schools/universities.

I would recommend going to your diocesan web site and looking up parishes there. You can find out what boundaries you live in. 

Ashl07

I know this isn't helpful, but where we live it's an oratory. Much different than I grew up with too!

ootmother2

Jesuits are not a type of Catholic or church.  They are a particular group of priests with similar thought and education.  Sometimes they are known for being more outspoken.  They do lead some of the top colleges and universities.

They are definitely known as the intellectual elite of Catholisism in most areas.

Ajuliana

Thanks everyone for sharing your knowledge!  I'm going to attend that parish for the first time tomorrow.  Hopefully it is a good fit and FI and I can start working on our future marriage and set a date!  

Kamakanani

Just to chime in, I went to college at a Jesuit university, and most of the priests and brothers I worked with there were really great guys who had a lot of love for the faith, and an insane amount of general academic knowledge and thirst.  Oftentimes, as an order, the Jesuits are seen as a very liberal group, and some may consider them to be the "black sheep" so to speak of the Church (based on things I've heard from some other Catholic friends I have).  While, to my experience, they do tend to lean more on the Social Justice side of the Church's teaching, there is no denying that they historically have not been shy to give their lives for the Church and Her teachings.