15 Sep Friends of Regis: Deacon João Haetinger SJ
On the surface, it would seem that Deacon João Francisco Haetinger SJ really didn’t need Regis College. The 37-year-old hails from the Jesuit province of Brazil, 400 men strong with a 500-year history that includes the founding of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. The Brazilian Jesuits established and continue to sponsor some of Brazil’s most prestigious universities with storied, famous faculties of theology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro and UNISINOS (Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos).
Back in Brazil, as he prepares for ordination to the priesthood, Haetinger is thankful for his three-and-a-half years of study at Regis. “Studying theology in Canada has enhanced my ability to handle cultural diversity and different languages. Toronto excels in connecting various cultures and fostering respect for differences,” Haetinger said in a WhatsApp interview from Brazil. “Brazil has a strong academic structure, but studying at Regis College, part of the University of Toronto, offered a rich theological background and exposure to different schools of thought in high-quality English education. Regis also provides spiritual depth and pastoral care that is unique and enriching.”
Haetinger returned to Brazil just in time for one of the worst natural disasters in Brazil’s history – flooding in Haetinger’s home state of Rio Grande do Sul that caused over 180 deaths, left half a million people without power or clean water, and destroyed homes and businesses in 431 of the state’s 497 municipalities. At Regis, Haetinger learned that disaster on this scale requires a theological response.
“Brazil has been treating the land and its people very poorly, exploiting resources without consideration for the Indigenous populations who have lived there for millennia. The systems that promote this exploitation are indifferent to the consequences of their actions,” he said. “From my time at Regis, I learned the importance of justice, peace, and spreading the Gospel. We must be aware of the human influences behind these disasters and take critical action to preserve our communities and the environment.”
Haetinger was chosen by his superiors for studies abroad – to learn a language and gain new perspectives. He thinks of his Regis sojourn as something more than fortunate. For him, it will be useful. “As a Jesuit in Brazil, adapting to global demands is essential,” he said.
The challenge of climate change to Brazil and the whole world requires a “shift in perspective,” Haetinger said. “This isn’t just a problem for Brazil. It’s a global issue.”
A global issue that requires a global education.

From left: Deacon João Haetinger SJ, Father Jair Barbosa SJ, Most Reverend Terrence T. Prendergast SJ, and Father Michael Rosinski SJ.