Simon Zachary, S.J. was just 10 years old when he felt the first tug towards religious life. But it wasn’t until he attended Brophy College Preparatory, a Jesuit high school in Phoenix, Arizona, where the influence of the Jesuits began to take shape.

He found the Jesuits to not only be intelligent and prayerful but also relatable and joyful. He wanted to experience more. He chose to attend Gonzaga, a Jesuit college in Spokane, where he graduated with a business degree. Still unsure of his path forward, Simon began a successful six-year career at Microsoft in digital advertising. But the tug remained, along with the doubts. “I was afraid of my calling,” Simon says. “Was I holy enough? Was I the right person to be a priest?” Six years later, shortly before his 30th birthday, he joined the Society of Jesus. Simon has worked in various capacities during his 10-year formation to become a Jesuit priest: juvenile hall facility assistant, hospital chaplain, English teacher to immigrants, social studies teacher and support roles in community ministry and student life. Along the way, he also earned a Master of Divinity at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in Berkeley, California, a degree in Catholic educational leadership from the University of San Francisco and studied philosophy, theology and French at both Fordham University and Centre Sèvres in Paris. In 2022, Simon was ordained a transitional deacon. This fall Simon joins the Seattle Prep community, where he will teach theology and social studies. He will also work alongside Fr. Ryan Rallanka, S.J. in campus ministry efforts and adult faith formation.

As we welcome Simon Zachary, S.J. to the Seattle Prep community, we bid a bittersweet farewell to Fr. Greg Celio, S.J. who will begin his next mission as Jesuit Superior at Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma, Washington. Fr. Celio has contributed greatly to Prep through his work in music and community ministry and leaves a lasting impact on our community.