@ JCEAO OFFICE
Fr Nicolas met with his Consultants last March 29-30. They discussed matters covering issues concerning the common missions, the plans and needs of the international works, changes in the secretariates, assistancy goals and preparation for GC35.
@ EAO SECRETARIATS (AJCU-EAO, China Desk, Ignatian Spirituality Animation, Inter-religious Dialogue, JEC-EAO, JESCOMEAO, Social Apostolate)
Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities-East Asia and Oceania (AJCU-EAO)
On April 6, there will be a small group discussion to reflect on the results of the survey conducted among the AJCU-EAO presidents / directors and some Provincials. This will also be an occasion to plan the agenda of the meeting on May 26-28 with Provincials of China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea and the Philippines, provinces where institutions of higher education are functioning. These related activities are coordinated by Ms. Lillian Vergara of the Ateneo de Manila University.
Jesuit Educational Conference-East Asia and Oceania (JEC-EAO)
Fr Riyo ends his China study tour on April 23. He will briefly visit Manila to attend the Local Superiors’ workshop before proceeding to Indonesia for his province mission.
@ INTERNATIONAL WORKS (AIR, EAPI, EAO Tertianship)
Arrupe International Residence (AIR)
On April 01–09, Juniors will be on retreat in Tagaytay, Theologians and Philosophers in Angono, Rizal.
Fr William J Currie (JPN) takes over from Fr Tom O’Gorman (PHI) as Spiritual Father when the latter leaves for Myanmar in June 2006.
Congratulations to:
- Angelo A. (Boboy) Silerio (PHI, at AIR 1999-2000) who will be ordained priest in Quezon City, Philippines (Loyola House of Studies), on Saturday, April 8 (angelo@admu.edu.ph);
- Nguyen Hai Tinh, Francis Xavier (VIE, at AIR 1999-2003) who will be ordained deacon in Rome on Tuesday, April 18 (namlieu@yahoo.com);
- Ahilarajah Sivarajah (SRI, at AIR 2002-2006) who will be ordained priest in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, on Saturday, April 29 (ahil@admu.edu.ph);
- Milroy (Roy) F. Fernando (SRI, at AIR 2002-2005) who will be ordained priest in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, on Saturday, April 29 (mfernando@admu.edu.ph);
- Peter Pichet Saengthien (TAI, at AIR 1999-2001) who will be ordained priest in Bangsaen, Thailand, on Saturday, May 13 (ppssj1@yahoo.com);
- Ngo Phan Dinh Phuc (VIE, at AIR 2000-2004) who will be ordained priest in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on Saturday June 10 (npdphuc@yahoo.com);
- Nguyen Duc Tri (VIE, at AIR 2000-2004) who will be ordained priest in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on Saturday June 10 (pnductri@yahoo.co.uk);
- Pham Tuan Nghia (VIE, at AIR 2000-2004) who will be ordained priest in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on Saturday June 10 (phamnghiatuan@yahoo.com);
- Ravi Michael Louis (MAS, at AIR 1996-2000) who will be ordained priest in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, June 17 (rm_sj@yahoo.com);
- James Tan Wei Liang (MAS, at AIR 1996-2000) who will be ordained priest in Singapore on Saturday, July 29 (jamestan_sj@lycos.com);
- Lucas Chan Yiu-sing (CHN, at AIR 2002-2005) who will be ordained priest Saturday, August 26, at Wahyan College Kowloon, Hong Kong (lucas.chan@dublin.com).
- Chioma Nwosu (ANW, at AIR 1999-2001) who will be ordained deacon Saturday, October 7 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA (chiomadsj@yahoo.com). [FYI: ANW = North West Africa Province, formerly Nigeria-Ghana Region plus a couple of other countries]
East Asian Pastoral Institute (EAPI)
The South Asia Assistancy generously assigns Fr Joel Mascarenhas (BOM) to join the EAPI resident staff by the end of June. He will be the much-needed Vice-Director for Administration.
@ ASSISTANCY COMMON AREAS (Cambodia, East Timor, Myanmar)
East Timor
The visit of Fr Nico and Fr Minh-Uoc last March 11–24 was very productive. Several meetings were held with different groups, taking up the concerns on the education apostolate, media, Suai, and the new major superior.
While they were there, two visitors also came, Fr Agustin Alonso (ESP), Director of the Jesuit NGO Entreculturas, and Fr Manuel Jaime Aristorena Larrea (VEN), Director of the whole network of Fe y Alegria schools. From March 14–20, they looked into the state of education in East Timor and the challenges that will have to be faced. They left with recommendations and possibilities where Fe y Alegria can help and with suggestions for future collaboration.
Fr Nico finished his mission visit by meeting with Timorese novices in Singapore on March 24, and with Timorese scholastics at Arrupe on March 31.
Fr Filomeno Jacob Abel professed the Four Vows last March 18, anticipating the Feast of St Joseph. He chose this Feast to express the fact that like St Joseph, we are called to intimacy and familiarity with Jesus. It was done with great simplicity in the chapel with the presence of the Bishop of Dili and all five brothers and sister of Fr Filomeno together with their families.
Myanmar
Fr Wardi Saputra shared last March 30, “April is always a hectic but relaxing month for the novices and for all of us here. During this month we have the novitiate break, Easter season, Water Festival, Family home visit (for Secundi), the arrival of the 7 new novices and of course the preparation for the first vows. Nothing special, but simple things can mean so much for us here.”
The following novices will take their first vows:
- Bro. Alexander Pan Sian Zam, nSJ
- Bro. Augustine Pyae Sane, nSJ
- Bro. Michael Tu Aung, nSJ
- Bro. Stephen Marthay, nSJ
The First Vows will be during the Eucharistic Celebration to be held on Sunday, May 7 at 09.30am at the Infant Jesus Chapel, Payaphyu, Taunggyi. Fr. Paul Pollock will be there for the Vow Mass.
@ PEER GROUPS (Brothers, Campus Ministers, Formators, Ministry to Indigenous People, Novice Directors, Philosophers, Scholastics, Socii, Treasurers, Vocation Promotion)
Local Superiors
As part of their continuing training, a workshop for Local Superiors will be held on April 23 – May 6 at the EAPI. The following were invited as resource persons: Frs William McGarry, Roger Champoux, Ben Nebres, John Mace, Asandas Balchand, Noel Vasquez, William Abbott, Tom O’Gorman, and Dr. Harvey Mateo. Topics to be taken up are Person of the Superior, Care of Persons, Care of Apostolate, Care of Community, Temporal Administration, Administrative Matters, and Superior’s Personal Improvement Plan. To date, twenty-four participants are confirmed.
@ PROVINCE/REGION (Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia-Singapore, Micronesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam)
Malaysia-Singapore
Jubilee Year 2006 Activities:
- March 4-12: Novena of Grace in Honour of Francis Xavier
- April 17-30: Pilgrimage of Singapore group led by Charles Sim, S.J.: Barcelona–Montserrat–Manresa–Pamplona and Javier-Loyola–Salamanca–Coimbra–Fatima–Avila–Madrid
Philippines
A missioning mass was celebrated last March 18 at the Loyola House of Studies for Fr Tom O’Gorman, who is going to Myanmar, and Sch. Robert Boholst, who is going to East Timor for regency.
@ SA-EAO Inter-Assistancy Collaboration
Tertianship in Kandy, Sri Lanka
- Bro. Simon Raj Iruthiam Xavier (MAS) (iruthiar@hotmail.com, iruthiar@yahoo.co.uk);
- Fr Joseph Yong-hae Kim (KOR) (yhseph@sogang.ac.kr);
- Fr Robertus Bambang Rudianto (JPN) (rudianto@cb.edu, rudi_sj@hotmail.com, or rudi_sj@kcc.zag.ne.jp);
- Fr Guido Chrisna Hidayat (IDO) (guido@provindo.org); and
- Fr Dismas Tulolo (IDO) (dismas_t@yahoo.com)
Teaching Opportunity in Myanmar
The Major Seminary needs one professor for this coming academic year. It can be either first or second semester, to teach two main courses: Introduction to Sacraments in General (3x/week, 45 minutes each class) and Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism & Confirmation; same amount of time). First semester runs from mid-May to August 30; second semester from October 2 to end of February.