ATLANTA--R. Bentley Anderson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Anderson of Holy Cross Parish, was ordained a transitional deacon in the Society of Jesus on May 27, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Toronto, Canada. Auxiliary Bishop, Terrence Prendergast, SJ, was the ordaining prelate.

Rev. Mr. Anderson, 35, will be ordained to the priesthood next June at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala.

He is a graduate of Marist School and Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C. At Marist he was equipment manager for the football team. At Presbyterian college he was the first Catholic to lead the student government and was a member of ROTC.

After graduating he served six years in the Army during which time he earned a master’s degree in history at Mommouth College in New Jersey. He completed his military service with the rank of captain and then entered the Jesuits.

He earned a master’s of divinity degree from Regis College in Toronto. He will complete his theological studies at Boston College and will also be working toward his doctorate in history.

This summer he is assisting in a parish in Grand Coteau, La., which is in the Jesuit Southern Province.

He has a brother, Greg and a sister, Mia Kendrick, both in Atlanta.