@ EAO SECRETARIATS (AJCU-EAO, CIREC, Ignatian Spirituality Animation, JEC-EAO, JESCOMEAO)
Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities-East Asia and Oceania
The annual meeting of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities – East Asia and Oceania was held at Fu Jen University in Taiwan from August 23 to 25. Fr. Adolfo Nicolas attended the first day of the meeting sharing with the participants his view of the mission of higher education in the Assistancy and especially the need for research in all apostolic areas leading to greater depth in our work.
The new president of Sogang University, Dr. Byungdoo Sohn, was present for the first time and all were impressed by his dedication to the educational mission of the Society. Also new to the group was Fr. Joseph Vu, director of Jesuit work at Fu Jen and Fr. Jose Villarin, new president of Xavier University. Fr. Sanji Yamaoka represented the new president of Sophia University who was not able to attend and Prof. Eka Priyatma represented the president of Sanata Dharma who also did not make it to the meeting.
Also present for the first time was Fr. Benedictus Triatmoko, director of St. Michael’s Technical Academy in Indonesia. He introduced the group to the unique educational opportunities and work of his school. At the business meeting, Fr. Benedictus formally requested and was admitted to AJCU-EAO membership bringing the number of formal members to nine universities, one college and the educational work of the Jesuits at Fu Jen and in Beijing.
Also actively present were Frs. Ben Nebres, Joel Tabora, Antonio Samson, William Kreutz and Ron Anton representing their respective schools and works. Fr. Joel Tabora, as president of the AJCU-EAO Board, chaired the meetings. Fr. Dan Ross, as executive secretary, was also present.
Fr. Luke Hong Park (Sogang), Fr. Jose Villarin (Cagayan de Oro), Dr. Becky Torres (Naga), Fr. Jose Badiola (Naga) were with us and were much appreciated for their contributions to the discussions.
There was considerable discussion about the need to integrate the work of higher education into the other works of the Society among other matters such as the desire to take on common projects where this may be possible.
The next annual meeting of the AJCU-EAO will be at Sogang University in Seoul, Korea in August 2006. This will be followed by an August 2007 meeting at the Ateneo in Manila. All of our schools are members of ASEACCU (Association of Southeast and East Asian Catholic Colleges and Universities) and we hold our Jesuit meetings just before the ASEACCU meeting each year. The 2007 ASEACCU meeting will be at La Salle University in Manila.
International Committee for Jesuit Higher Education
The ICJHE meeting will be held at the Jesuit Curia in Rome from October 31 to November 3. Fr. Dan Ross is a member of this five-person committee. There will be a joint meeting of the committee with the task force on globalization directed by Fr. Fernando Franco on November 2.
Jesuit Educational Conference-East Asia and Oceania
Mrs. Jenny Go met with Fr. Riyo Mursanto at the JCEAO Office last August 16 to discuss with him the work of the secretariat and help him prepare for his duty as the new Secretary. Mrs. Go continues to work with the education project in Xiamen.
@ INTERNATIONAL WORKS (AIR, EAPI, EAO Tertianship)
Arrupe International Residence (AIR)
Fr. David Hollenback, professor of Theology at Boston College and a lecturer at the EAPI, gave a talk on “the Global Common Good in the Divided World” to AIR community on August 9.
We celebrated the 50th golden jubilee of Fr. John Mace in the Society of Jesus on August 18. “50 years of journeying with the Lord – 50 years of being polished into perfection!” These words from Fr Adolfo Nicolas’ homily summed up the rich and challenging, generous and selfless life of John Mace, Rector of Arrupe International Residence, who entered the Wisconsin Province of the Society fifty years ago on August 17. About two hundred Jesuit and lay friends gathered with John in the covered court of Loyola House of Studies and Arrupe to commemorate the joyful day. In messages from Fr General and Fr. Zuloaga, we caught glimpses of John’s many faceted talents as well as his capacity for deep, compassionate care and friendship. Fr. John Mace’s own words captured the spirit of the day and his fifty years when he remarked that throughout his years of varied service to the Society and God’s people across America, Korea and the Philippines, he was always quietly mindful of and grateful for the Lord’s immense goodness in his growth as a Jesuit!
East Asian Pastoral Institute (EAPI)
Fr. Thomas R. Fitzpatrick: A member of the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus. He has had extensive administrative and multi-cultural experience, including: 16 years as Vice President and Treasurer of the Ateneo de Manila University; 9 years in Africa, serving as Country Representative of Catholic Relief Services in Ethiopia and consultant to the Office of the Assistant to the UN Secretary General in Ethiopia during the famine years of 1982-1986; then, in Nairobi, Kenya, he served as Programme Officer-Africa for Jesuit Refugee Service; 3 years at Caritas Internationalis in Rome, as Director of Emergency Service Desk; 5 years as the Director of the Xavier Society for the Blind, New York City. Joining East Asian Pastoral Institute in September of 1999, he is the Associate Director of the Institute, handling the areas of administration and finance. He holds the STL from Woodstock College, Maryland, and an MBA from Columbia University. He has been inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Asian Institute of Management.
He died about 10:30 p.m. Saturday evening (EDT), 27 August 2005, in the NYK Province infirmary at Murray Weigel Hall, Bronx, New York. The interment was scheduled for Wednesday, 31 August, in the NYK Province cemetery at Auriesville, New York, after the Jesuit community Mass at 11:30 a.m (EDT).
Fr. Tom would have turned 75 on his birthday on October 1, 2005. He entered the Society on 7 September 1948 and was ordained a priest on 21 June 1961. He served for 16 uninterrupted years in various capacities in the Ateneo de Manila University.
Please remember him in your prayers.
On 40 years of Vatican II Special Courses
Courses commemorating Vatican II (Deepening Theological Themes and Exploring Pastoral Strategies) continue. Our visiting lecturers for August were Sr. Nonie Gutzler, MM and Fr. David Hollenbach, SJ who taught modules on “Contextualized Christology” and “Christian Morality and Social Ethics” respectively. The latter also gave an open lecture on “Human Rights and Global Ethics in a Multicultural World” which was well attended. For these modules we also had about a dozen auditors from Metro Manila and outside.
These modules were followed by Aug. 15-19 sessions on “Enneagram and Spirituality” conducted by Deacon Mario Van Loon. At present Fr. Victor Salanga, SJ from LST lectures on “Approaches to Scripture” which is much appreciated by participants. This will be followed by an eight-day retreat conducted by Fr. John Fuellenbach, SVD from August 26th to Sept. 2nd. Following the retreat Fr. Fuellenbach will continue to teach a module on “The Kingdom of God”. Simultaneously, Dr. Megan McKenna will give a module on “Preaching the Hard and Joyful Word of Mark and the Hopes of Vatican II” from Sept. 5-16 to the participants of Exploring Pastoral Strategies. These modules too will be open to auditors.
We look forward to the EAPI Annual Alumni Homecoming, which is scheduled for October 4, 2005, starting at 2:30 p.m. Dr. George Evers, the visiting professor during that week, will speak on “Challenges facing the Churches of Asia Today”. All EAPI alumni or past participants are cordially invited to this event.
@ ASSISTANCY COMMON AREAS (Cambodia, East Timor, Myanmar)
East Timor
In a very simple community gathering, Fr. Rutten celebrated his golden jubilee of priesthood last August 22. The abundant graces from the Lord have been flowing through him to many seminarians, whom he is serving as spiritual director.
The Railacu Parish continues its collaboration with St. Canice Parish, Australia. Catherine Redden, the consultant for St. Canice, stayed and worked in Railacu for the last 6 months. Steve Sinn and three members of the St. Canice community came for a visit.
Myanmar
On August 5, Fr. Martin Suhartono, the Major Superior of Thai Region, was appointed by Fr. General as the Major Superior of Myanmar Mission. Fr. Martin took office on Sept. 1, 2005. The change of superior does not change the status of Myanmar. It still remains as one of the three common missions of the Assistancy.
@ PEER GROUPS (Brothers, Campus Ministers, Formators, Ministry to Indigenous People, Novice Directors, Philosophers, Scholastics, Socii, Treasurers, Vocation Promotion)
Brothers
Brothers Circle Meeting was held in Canisius, Pymble, Sydney, from August 3 – 8. Discussion centered on three areas: the Identity, Mission and Community Life (by Bruce Robertson), Identity and Mission and our Vocation (by Ian Cribb), Identity and Mission and Collaboration with our partners (by Ms. Ruth Morgant). All participants, 10 from abroad and 11 from the local, were happy with the proceedings and the setting where they met. Brother Tinh, the minister, and Brother Ian, the coordinator, planned everything well, covering the spiritual session, the serious discussion, the happy dining out, and the walking tour around the Sydney Opera House, CBD. Even Bro. John Malone, the eldest in the group at 93 years, joined the tour, rejecting all offers for him to take the train or car.
Scholastics
The Scholastics and Brothers-in-formation Circle (SBC) held its annual Sports Fest on August 1 in conjunction with St. Ignatius’ feast day. The event witnessed an enthusiastic turnout of 156 scholastics, brothers and priests from six Jesuits communities in Metro Manila, who came to participate in eight sporting events: swimming, futsal, volleyball, soccer, tennis, basketball, badminton and table tennis. Among the Jesuits gracing the occasion were Fr. Provincial Danny Huang and Fr. President Adolfo Nicolas.
@ PROVINCE/REGION (Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia-Singapore, Micronesia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam)
Indonesia
Continuing to contribute to the work together for the mission in the whole Assistancy, Indonesian Province sent a young Jesuit priest for the apostolate in Micronesia. Fr. Eddy Anthony left Waghete, a remote village in the mountain of West Papua where he had stayed for almost ten years, to assume pastoral work in Yap Island. He learned English in Chuuk Island in July. He is now starting the mission in Yap Island. He comments, “The people in Papua and Yap are similar, they just wear grass skirts and like to dance”.
Korea
On September 1, in a mass presided by Fr. General, Korea was be proclaimed as a new province, becoming the 82nd Province of the Society of Jesus. The decree of which was already signed on August 15 in Rome. The mission of Korea was established and entrusted to the Province of Wisconsin, on February 25, 1955. This year is the celebration of 50 years of Jesuits presence in Korea in modern times.
Philippines
Loyola School of Theology comes to its 40 years of age. To move ahead, the school decided to focus on the theme, “The People of God, the Heart of Gold” for the next ten years.
Part of their celebration was a liturgical music concert, featuring Jesuit musicians, several choral groups and dancers, held on August 19 and 20. The concert also commemorated 40 years of Philippine liturgical music since of Vatican II. Bishop Tagle, an alumnus of LST, was the master of ceremonies. He, partnering with a young female TV star, made the concert enjoyable and meaningful.
On September 10, H.E. Honesto F. Ongtioco, DD. will ordain to the diaconate Joseph Lester C. Maramara, Angelo A. Silerio, and Joaquin Jose Mari C. Sumpaico, together with two Sri Lankan scholastics at the Arrupe International Residence, Sivarajah Ahilaraj and Milroy R. Fernando. Bishop Ongtioco will also ordain Rogel Anecito L. Abais to the presbyterate. The ceremony will take place in the Oratory of St Ignatius of Loyola, Loyola House of Studies, Quezon City.