Over the past six months seven newcomers from East Timor, Korea and Vietnam have been welcomed into the community at Jesuit Theological College in Melbourne where they will study theology at the United Faculty of Theology.

Nguyen Thai Son, Tran Thanh Tan and Nguyen Kim Doan (VIE), who finished studying philosophy in Vietnam last year, joined Jin-hyuk Park (KOR) who completed his regency in Cambodia last January, Plinio Martins (ETR) and Shin-jae Youh (KOR). Finally, Jin-hyon Lee (KOR) arrived at JTC last month after completing his regency at the Café for Labourers in Korea. He had planned to study theology in England, but had problems getting a visa. We are happy that he has come to JTC to study.

Our four diaconal candidates this year are Ardi Handojoseno (IDO), Jub Phokthavi (KOR), Younsu Kim (KOR) and Gregory Jacobs (ASL). The first three started their Arrupe Month on June 16. They will begin with an eight-day retreat in the Australian desert, near Alice Springs. After that, theywill meet some Jesuits and lay companions to talk about the meaning of priesthood as a Jesuit and how they can work together to build the reign of God.

In-young Cho (KOR), who studied theology at JTC, was ordained a priest in Seoul on June 27. Next semester he will return to Australia to complete his Master of Arts in Spirituality through the Institute for Christian Spirituality and Pastoral Formation. Sacha Bermudez-Goldman (ASL) was ordained a priest in Melbourne on June 30, and Thomas Renshaw (ASL) will be ordained a priest in Queanbeyan on July 14.