Jesuit Father Russell Roide, 69, was born in Los Angeles, Calif., and has one brother. He attended Loyola Marymount University and Boston College’s School of Theology. In 1970 he was ordained a priest for the Society of Jesus in Los Angeles. Father Roide has served as pastor of St. Agnes Parish in San Francisco and St. Francis Xavier Parish in Phoenix, as campus minister at Loyola Marymount University and Stanford University, and most recently as president and rector of St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco. He also spent summers between 1972 and 1992 serving at Maui parishes. Father Roide became pastor and campus minister of the University Catholic Center on July 31.

1. Who have you admired most in your life?

My father. He was one of the most generous persons I have ever seen and loved to make children happy. When he would go to a family gathering he would fill his pockets with dollar bills and give them  out to the kids to buy candy, thereby becoming their favorite uncle. In the early years of my priesthood, he was a great help with my homily preparation. He would always tell me that they were really good, but they would be better if stayed under 10 minutes and “tried to find the airport and land the airplane.” I never forgot that and, because of him, my homilies are carefully put together.

2. What is your favorite childhood memory?

As a family, all of my aunts, uncles and first cousins would have dinner, play and catch up every Sunday  at my grandparents home in Los Angeles. It was truly a close-knit and loving family.

3. What is your favorite Bible passage?

John 15:5: “I am the vine, you are the branches.” This passage came to the surface during one of the yearly, eight-day retreats we Jesuits make. It has become the hallmark of my life, for without regular prayer, Mass and staying close to God, I couldn’t continue to be an effective minister of Christ’s love.

4. What book are you reading now?

“Riding the Dragon: 10 Lessons for Inner Strength in Challenging Times” by Robert J. Wicks. It’s an extraordinarily simple book that teaches caregivers — which we all are — to care for themselves. I like it so much that I will be leading a book group each semester at UCC. It is very practical and has some great advice about how to watch for burn-out.

5. What’s the church’s biggest challenge today?

Updating the catechesis and evangelization of the people of God. Also I believe that we priests need to regularly keep up on and read spirituality and theology. We must be models on updating ourselves with excellent homilies and adult faith formation. We also need to reteach Catholics how to pray with meditation to quiet down and listen to God. If more young people did that, there’d be more vocations.

6. What is your hidden talent?

I love to cook and my favorite is spaghetti cabonara. When I visited Rome a few years ago, I had the best food. (I don’t think one can ever get a bad meal in Rome.) But I asked the waiter for the recipe and it has become a favorite of the Jesuits when I have a chance to cook.

7. Where have you always wanted to visit?

I have only been to Assisi, the home of St. Francis of Assisi, once in my life, but I think I could live there. I want to go back and not only visit Assisi, but the famous Portiuncula Chapel in Santa Maria degli Angeli down the hill from Assisi. In the Portiuncula chapel, St. Francis received St. Clare into the Franciscan Order.

8. What is your favorite movie?

I won’t go to a movie unless it has been tried and tested by friends and relatives. I just don’t like to see a flick, I like to come back from one refreshed and relaxed. My favorite is “Dead Poet’s Society.”