The Jesuits are men who belong to a Catholic religious order called the Society of Jesus. This group was founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola over 450 years ago.

There are about 21,000 Jesuit priests and brothers located around the world. About 3,800 of them are in the United States within 10 area Provinces. The Jesuit Communities at Fordham University make up the largest group of Jesuits within the New York Province found in one place.

While the main focus of the Jesuit Order is on education, they are also actively involved in parish work, spiritual direction, retreat centers, social justice projects, and foreign missions.

The Jesuit Community at Fordham University is part of the New York Province of the Society of Jesus and is actually composed of two communities associated with Fordham University (Spellman Hall and Loyola Hall), and one housing the Jesuits of Fordham Prep School (Kohlmann Hall).  In addition the community at Ciszek Hall, is the home of the Jesuit Scholastics or Jesuits-in-training, and the New York Province's infimary is at Murray Weigel Hall.

Of the 83 Jesuit priests and brothers who reside in the Fordham Jesuit community, there are approximately 30 who are full time teachers or administrators at the University and 10 at the High School. Nine other Jesuits live in Manhattan and teach at Fordham's Lincoln Center campus.

Fordham University is our main apostolate, but some Fordham Jesuits also work in parishes, nursing homes, and other endeavors. And Fordham Prep is a major Jesuit Apostolate located near the NY Botanical Garden Metro North train station.