Updated on April 19, 2018

Writer and America Magazine editor the Rev. James Martin, S.J., will speak at Loyola’s commencement ceremony this year.

Martin said that he is excited to return to Loyola for many reasons.

“I’m honored of course. Loyola is such a wonderful place, and I’ve already spent time there, know the Jesuit community and have even come to know one of your recent graduates, Colleen Dulle, who works with us at America Media,” Martin said.

The Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., made the announcement in an university-wide email on April 13.

Wildes said that Martin is one of the world’s most widely recognized Jesuits and an “influential and important voice of the Catholic Church and Ignatian spirituality.”

“Through his messages of compassion, humility, welcome, and understanding, he appeals to people of all faiths and backgrounds and has engaged a worldwide community in the Jesuit values of reflection, contemplation, and faith in action,” Wildes said in the email.

Martin said he didn’t become a Jesuit until his late 20s.

“So one thing to remember is that it’s never too late to discover a relationship with God,” he said.

Since then, Martin has appeared on many radio and television shows to comment on religion and spirituality. He has written 13 books about spirituality. According to Wildes, Martin’s most recent book, “Building a Bridge”, has received imprimatur of the Catholic Church and been endorsed by many bishops and church leaders.

Martin also served as a consultor to the Vatican’s Secretariat for Communication, where he worked with Pope Francis.

Martin said that he hopes to impart some important lessons on undergraduates at Loyola.

“I’d say to try to discover who you are while you’re at Loyola. God has already made you a wonderful person, but God’s not finished with you yet,” he said.

Martin said he will use some of his own lessons from his fellow Jesuits to give the speech.

“One thing I’ve learned as a Jesuit is not only that God meets you where you are, but that we need to meet others where they are,” Martin said. “So I’ll take pity on the graduates, who are looking forward to spending time with their families and friends afterwards, and make sure the talk is not too long!”

The undergraduate commencement ceremony will be on May 12 at 9:45 a.m. in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.