Kevin Kelly/Key photo Father Mark Daues kneels before the Holy Eucharist, held by Jesuit provincial Father Frank Reale, as he makes his final vows to become fully incorporated into the Society of Jesus.

"My life as a Jesuit only makes sense with you guys," he said in his homily Nov. 14 to the more than 1,000 young men of Rockhurst High School. "You are the ones who let me live out my priesthood."

Father Daues, a member of the Rockhurst High School faculty, chose the campus' Rose Theatre and the school's Mass to celebrate its annual Harvest Food Drive to make his third and final profession before Jesuit provincial Father Frank Reale and members of Kansas City's Jesuit community.

"My commitment to the Society of Jesus and to my priesthood only makes sense here and now in this context," he said.

Father Daues assured the students that he has been a Jesuit and a priest for a number of years. The final profession, he said, is possible only after a "tertianship" - a full year of spiritual training and study that can be completed only after ordination and several years of experience in Jesuit ministry. Only Jesuits who have made their final vows, including one pledging everything they are and everything they will ever own to the Society of Jesus, are eligible to hold office in the Society and have full voting rights.

As the campus was still grieving the death less than a week earlier of Class of 2000 alumnus Joseph M. Linneman in an automobile accident near Columbia, Father Daues challenged the students to live their faith fully every moment of their lives.

"Joe died at 18," Father Daues said. "Thank God, Joe didn't live his life waiting for tomorrow. Joe said, 'I am going to make the world a better place today.'"

He reminded the students of the Jesuit motto, "Men for Others," and said each one of them has a vocation as real as his own.

"I didn't become a priest to make myself important. I felt called. It is my vocation to be a priest," he said.

"All of you have a vocation to serve and to live out your faith," Father Daues said. "If you are going to do that, it has to mean something here and now, today. As St. Ignatius said, 'Love is better shown in deeds than in words.'

"So my challenge to you is to serve God by serving God's people," he said. "Don't wait for tomorrow. Do it today."