E-News November 2005

@ JCEAO OFFICE

We have set up a FORUM to enhance communication among us. Please visit the website www.jceao.net and click the FORUM.

On November 3-6 Fr. Nicolas travels to Phnom Penh for a consultation with the Jesuit Service Cambodia. He proceeds to Singapore to visit the members of the Malaysia and Singapore Regions, and returns to the office on November 10.

Fr. Pham Minh-Uoc was with us at the JCEAO office from mid October until November 3, learning the daily rhythm of the job as a Socius to the President, which he will assume on January 2006.

Last October 5-6, The President met with his consultants: Frs. John Mace, Riyo Mursanto, Philip Heng, Tom Steinbugler, Priyono Marwan, together with a new member, Fr Matthias Chae Joon-ho. Fr. Mario Francisco is on sabbatical and could not attend.

@ EAO SECRETARIATS (AJCU-EAO, China Desk, Ignatian Spirituality Animation, Inter-religious Dialogue, JEC-EAO, JESCOMEAO, Social Apostolate)

At the request of the Major Superiors, Fr Nicolas called a meeting of the Secretaries to look into the work organization in the Assistancy, re-examine the goals, the system, and way of proceeding, and determine where to make the necessary changes. The Secretaries generously responded and came together last October 8-10: Frs. Bernard Hyacinth Arputhasamy (JRS-Asia Pacific), Cyril Veliath (Buddhist-Christian Dialogue), Gregorius Budi Subanar (Muslim-Christian Dialogue), Paul Dass (Social Apostolate), George Martinson (Social Communication), Daniel Ross (Colleges and Universities – AJCU), Thomas O’Gorman (Ignatian Spirituality) and Riyo Mursanto (Education – JEC). Fr. John Mace was also invited to join as Consultant, together with Fr. Tom Steinbugler.

@ INTERNATIONAL WORKS (AIR, EAPI, EAO Tertianship)

Arrupe International Residence (AIR)

Our community saw the presence of several provincials during the first week of October: Fr. Matthias Joon-ho Chae, now Provincial of Korea, Fr. Priyono Marwan, Provincial of Indonesia and Fr. Luis Gendron, new Provincial of the Chinese Province. Fr. Philip Heng, Novice Director in Singapore, was also a recent guest.

The spiritual directors of our Arrupe scholastics and brothers met on the evening September 29 to share their experiences on the ministry of spiritual direction. The group of 15 included staff members from this community and Jesuits from other communities who have generously made themselves available as spiritual directors. The meeting is held once each semester and has proved to be a helpful support for all participants.

We had our community villa October 17-20 at Encenada Resort in Mindoro—the same place we went in May last year. Frs. Tom O’ Gorman, Norris Seenivasan and Manny Flores were not free to attend as also was Jub (Phongphand Phokthavi) who was in Thailand for a home visit. Fr. John Lee Hua, Chinese Novice Director, joined us for villa. We all enjoyed the environment, the excursions and the opportunity to rest.

Seventeen juniors and three others went to Navotas for an experience of living with a Filipino family from October 22-26. Fr. Riyo visited them and celebrated the liturgy with them on the second night of their exposure.

Former Arrupean Fr. Lee Kyung-yong (KOR) spent some days with us. He was on his way to Cambodia for his new assignment. He lived at AIR for three years and was a faithful student at the Loyola School of Theology. He celebrated the Eucharist for our community on the last day of his stay.

@ ASSISTANCY COMMON AREAS (Cambodia, East Timor, Myanmar)

Cambodia

Here’s an indication on the positive influence of Jesuit Service Cambodia: “A refreshing alternative to the myopic forms of intervention (be they political or spiritual) can be seen in the catholic missions, particularly the Jesuits in Southeast Asia. Unlike those missionaries who give food with the ulterior motive of winning conversions, the Catholics just give food because people are starving. There is no means-end negotiation – just charity. I never thought my trip to Cambodia would bring me closer to my Catholic roots, but it did. It didn’t restore my faith (that would take at least a Lazarus style resurrection), but it did restore some respect.”
(Quoted from an email sent to Sr. Denise Coghlan, RSM – Director of JSC)

East Timor

Our commitment for an educational apostolate in East Timor has been strengthened by the positive responses to the dream of having our own Jesuit School. The funding for purchasing a piece of land before the end of this year is granted by Australian and Japanese Provinces, thanks to the generosity of the donors in both places.

On October 28, Fr. General called Fr. Filomeno Abel to the profession of four vows. Please pray for Fr. Filo as he prepares to take this step of final incorporation into the minimal Society.

Myanmar

Fr. Martin Suhartono, the newly appointed Superior of Myanmar Mission, made his first visit on October 15 – 23. He met people and saw the works there. This marks a new step in the life of Myanmar Mission.

@ PROVINCE/REGION (Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia-Singapore, Micronesia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam)

China

On October 19, a concert was held at the Macau Cathedral. This was the World Premiere of a piece of music by a young composer named Eli Marshall. The piece, with a very good and well-known tenor, is called Unde Pendet Aeternitas. The words used are Latin from the mass, Italian from letters of Matteo Ricci, and Chinese from a poem of Matteo Ricci. The composer, Eli Marshall, has apparently received research assistance and general moral support from The Beijing Center. The Provincial of China, together with Frs. Eugenio Matis and Luis Sequeira, attended the concert.

Indonesia

On October 10 in the Student Center in Jakarta, Fr. Lie Chung Yen, better known as Fr. Martin Suhartono, gave a talk about his recent book on Mary Magdalene. It was written in a popular style and it introduced Mary Magdalene according to the tradition of the Holy Scripture. Students filled up the meeting room, listening attentively to Fr. Martin, who said, “Don’t look at Mary Magdalene from the neck downward, but look at how she has been gazing upward toward heaven.” Fr. Martin will donate the book royalties for a social cause.

Philippines

Recently, the Ricardo Leong Center for Chinese Studies was launched at Ateneo de Manila University campus. The center was named after the outstanding graduate of the Ateneo de Manila and Fordham University, New York, and was funded with an endowment from his family.
The center was created in response to the growing importance of China for our region and the world, and the directive of Fr. General Peter-Hans Kolvenbach to consider China as one of the priorities of the Society. The Center aspires to enhance the Filipino’s understanding and appreciation of China in the fields of language, culture, history, politics, business and economics, to help improve Mandarin-language teaching in the country and to strengthen the University’s teaching and research capability towards the development of a Master of Arts in Chinese Studies.

Thailand

Fr. Saichon, the Director of Vocation promotion in the Thai region, organized a vocation camp at Sankampeng, Chiangmai from October 8-11. Some Jesuits (Deacon Vinai, Schol. Wasan and Beda) together with 10 candidates, 2 Marina sisters and some university students helped in arranging this program. Sixty kids from different places in Thailand such as Bangkok, Bangsaen, Changming, Maehongson, Chomtong, Payao and Chiangmai joined this camp. They were given an introduction about the Jesuits and being a Jesuit candidate. And of course the organizers played with them. At the end of the camp, everyone went to Chiangmai Zoo for a picnic.

An Invitation from Ireland

To stimulate international academic links, the Irish Jesuits offer two fellowships a year to visiting Jesuit scholars in Theology (including Spirituality) and Philosophy. The fellowships offer:

• full board and accommodation in a Jesuit residence for either one or two semesters (September to Christmas or January to May),
• a stipend of 15,000 euro per academic year or 8,000 euro for a semester.
• office and computer facilities.

The Fellows will teach one MA/STL module and conduct one staff seminar.
Application, with a CV, should be sent by post or preferably by email to Fr. Noel Barber, S.J. (nbarber@jesuit.ie ), Jesuit Provincial Delegate for Learned Ministry, Gonzaga College, Sandford Road, Dublin 6.

The deadline for applications is 30th April prior to the commencement of the academic year (for the 1st semester) and September 30th (for the 2nd semester).