Listen to this story:
For Fr. Erik Sorensen, SJ, faith is both a path and a practice—one shaped by prayer, friendship, and hands-on service. Whether he’s repairing a leaking pipe, training in martial arts, or walking the Camino de Santiago, he finds God in movement and in the ordinary moments of life.
In this conversation, he shares the lessons he’s learned along the way: that vocation isn’t something hidden to be found, but something revealed where love and desire meet; that friendship in the Lord is a journey shared; and that living “in the Spirit, from the heart, practically,” remains the best way to walk with others toward God.
What book has influenced your spiritual journey the most, and why?
The Gift of Spiritual Intimacy by Monty Williams, SJ, a book that guides readers through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola in daily life. Monty’s spiritual insights and practical questions always help me deepen my self-reflection and prayer.
What’s a surprising hobby or talent you have that others might not expect?
I have been training in various forms of martial arts since I was eight years old. I earned my black belt in karate before joining the Society, and over the past year, I earned my black belt in Japanese Jiu-Jitsu.
What’s the most inspiring place you’ve prayed, and why did it stand out?
I learned that I enjoy walking while praying during the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in Spain. As I walked the Camino, there were points where I could really feel Jesus walking with me. It’s an experience I can return to whenever I walk and pray.
What part of Jesuit life has brought you the most unexpected joy?
With my background in engineering and practical skills in building maintenance, I am often called upon to help repair and maintain the houses I have lived in. These physical tasks provide me with a great break from my studies or other ministries. I enjoy working with my hands on something concrete, whether that’s fixing a leaking pipe or installing a new Wi-Fi system.
If you could share one piece of advice with someone discerning their vocation, what would it be?
A vocation is not an object that God has hidden from you and that you have to go searching for. Our vocations are found deep within ourselves, where God’s love for us and our deepest desires meet.
What was your biggest fear before entering the Jesuits, and how did you overcome it?
I think my biggest challenge was the “what if?” question. What if this doesn’t work out? What helped me was recognizing and naming this question as a hypothetical that I would ask about any major decision in my life.
Whether I was entering religious life, deciding to get married, or taking a new job – all of these major life choices would be accompanied by this same question. Once I could recognize that, I knew that trying to answer that question before entering would just lead to paralysis. I needed to try to trust that it would work out, one way or another.
Which Jesuit value resonates most with you in today’s world?
One of the early Jesuits, Jerome Nadal, said that Jesuits should act “in the Spirit, from the heart, practically.” I think this speaks to how we should be in today’s world. We need to discern where the Spirit is moving, we need to be compassionate, and we need to take practical action. In a society that is experiencing increasing polarization and marginalization, there is a need to be with people and to act pastorally to bring about change.
What’s your go-to prayer or spiritual practice when you’re feeling stuck?
I often turn to the Jesus Prayer, popular in Eastern Christian traditions. I love it for its simplicity and its rhythmic nature. It consists of praying one line over and over again: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Repeating this line while I pay attention to my breathing really helps me to center myself and find that quiet place with God.
How has community life as a Jesuit shaped your understanding of friendship?
Living in Jesuit community for the last 13 years has taught me what it means to be friends in the Lord, a phrase that St Ignatius and the early Jesuits used to describe their relationship to each other.
This type of friendship does not rely on mutually shared hobbies or interests; rather, it is grounded in a shared love for Jesus that brings us together. Friendship, seen in this way, is not a selfish thing; it is aimed at caring for the other person and orients the relationship towards the mission. Friendships are both where we share God’s love and also where we find ourselves embarking together as pilgrims towards the Kingdom of Heaven.
