John Stein, a member of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), joined Billiken Tennis in 2021. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in philosophy at SLU as a part of his preparation to become a Catholic priest.
The fourth of eight children, John grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated from St. Xavier High School. After finishing his bachelor’s degree at the University of Dallas, John discerned a call to religious life and entered the Jesuit novitiate in 2018. As a novice, John ministered to the homeless and incarcerated in Minnesota and spent time teaching on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. He also completed the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius (a month-long retreat in silence), and he embarked on a 30-day pilgrimage which took him across much of the southwestern United States—from Missouri to Arizona to California.
After pronouncing his First Vows as a Jesuit in 2020, John moved to St. Louis to begin his philosophy studies. Locally, John has served as an ESL tutor at the Immigrant Home English Learning Program, volunteered with the reading program at Loyola Academy, and assisted with pastoral ministry at St. Teresa and Bridget parish. In addition to serving as tennis chaplain, he also teaches catechism at Our Lady of Guadalupe parish, helps coordinate “Java with the Jesuits” on campus, and writes for The Jesuit Post.
As chaplain, John has enjoyed getting to know the players and coaches, listening to their life stories, and offering spiritual counsel. He has also enjoyed learning more about the sport while watching the Billikens play great tennis.
