October 23, 2026
From mowing lawns and delivering newspapers as a teenager to discovering his vocation as a Jesuit priest, Rev. James Martin, S.J., has followed an unconventional path to ministry—one he reflected upon during a recent visit to St. John’s University.
Fr. Martin, a Jesuit priest, author, and editor-at-large of America, returned to St. John’s for a discussion sponsored by the Vincentian Center for Church and Society as part of their Conversation Partners series.
During the program, held October 19 at St. Thomas More Church, on the Queens, NY, campus, Fr. Martin shared selections from his book, Work in Progress, and answered questions about his spiritual journey, contemporary challenges facing the Catholic Church, and the importance of faith and understanding in an increasingly divided world.
The book recounts his experiences growing up in suburban Philadelphia, PA, during the 1960s and 1970s, his often-humorous attempts to earn money through summer employment, and his eventual decision to enter the Society of Jesus.
“So, it’s really a vocational story,” Fr. Martin explained. “The first part of the book is really finding work, the second part is [about] finding God.”
Among the passages he shared was a childhood recollection of encountering an overwhelming sense of happiness and wonder while riding his bicycle through a meadow. Only years later, he explained, did he recognize the experience as an early indication of his developing spiritual life.
The reading was followed by a question-and-answer session that touched upon subjects ranging from the papacy to the responsibilities of the Church in an increasingly complex world.
Asked what he would consider his greatest priority if he were pope, Fr. Martin acknowledged challenges including sexual abuse, polarization, and the difficulties facing refugees and migrants.
“I would say that the number-one thing for me would be to, like Pope Leo XIV is doing, communicate God’s love, welcome, and mercy to people,” he said, emphasizing the fundamental importance of preaching the Gospel.
Another question explored how Catholics can communicate the interconnected principles of Catholic social teaching without becoming entangled in political disagreements. Fr. Martin emphasized the importance of recognizing the Church’s consistent concern for human life and dignity while avoiding unnecessary political divisions.
Earlier in the day, Fr. Martin participated in a luncheon with LGBTQ+ students and other members of the University community. The gathering offered an opportunity for an informal exchange about faith, personal experiences, and the importance of dialogue.
Fr. Martin, whose ministry includes outreach to LGBTQ+ Catholics, encouraged participants to share their experiences, seek meaningful conversations, and remain willing to listen, even when disagreements arise. “I find, for me, what actually moves the ball ahead is working within the Church,” he said.
Drawing upon his experiences participating as a papal appointee at the recent 2023–24 Synod of Bishops held in Rome, Italy, he reflected on the importance of building relationships with people who hold different perspectives. “I would say, be friends, be willing to listen,” he told those gathered.
He added, “I think that the best way to build bridges is to get yourself into conversations with people who matter.”
Reverend Patrick J. Griffin, C.M. ’13HON, Executive Director of the Executive Director of the Vincentian Center for Church and Society, noted that the tales from Fr. Martin’s youth “invited personal reflection on the hearer’s own life. Fr. Martin is an accomplished storyteller, and as such he explores and explains, even as he entertains and engages. He is an easy person to whom to listen and the gathered community gave him attention and encouragement. We affirmed this ‘work in progress.’”