The East Asia Theological Encounter Programme (EATEP) in 2012 will be held from April 16 to May 14. The programme, which is in its seventh year, will be held at Seven Fountains, the Jesuit spirituality centre in Chiangmai, Thailand.
EATEP is a Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific programme that adds to the theological formation of young Jesuits. It was developed in 2005 to provide Jesuit scholastics with an opportunity to examine issues of Asian theology, inculturation of the Catholic faith in Asia and inter-religious dialogue, as well as an immersion experience of Buddhism in a specific context such as Thailand.
“Our programme hopes to prepare these future Jesuit priests to adapt their presentation of the Catholic faith to the culture of the people they will serve within Asia’s multicultural and multireligious context and in an era of interreligious dialogue and cooperation among Buddhists, Christians, Muslims and Hindus,” said EATEP director Fr John Shea SJ.
The programme has a seminar approach with presentations, discussion, personal reflection and field trips to temples, monasteries and historic sites in Thailand, particularly in the Chiangmai area.
There is also a six-day retreat at Wat Tham Doi Tone, a cave monastery in the mountains of Northern Thailand. During the retreat, the scholastics follow the daily order of the monks, rising at 4 am and eating only one full meal a day before noon. They learn and practice “Vippassana” or “Insight” meditation under the direction of Abbot Phra Ajarn Piyassi Bhikku and Ajarn Apinya, a lay disciple of the Abbot.
Fr John added that EATEP also provides scholastics with an opportunity to get to know Jesuits in formation from other Provinces and Regions.
“Coming together as an Asia Pacific group helps in developing their identity as Asian Jesuits who will be the future of the Catholic Church in Asia,” he said.
To date, 50 scholastics from across the Conference have participated in the programme and their response has been very positive.
“It has broadened my horizons on the Asian context of multi-cultural and multi-religious society and how to respond to this pluralistic context through my Christian faith and belief, especially for me as a Jesuit in formation,” said one scholastic.
Another scholastic said, “It helped me understand and respect other cultures and faiths”, while yet another felt that the guided meditation enabled him to understand Buddhism existentially.
Only a dozen participants are taken each year for the programme, which is affiliated with the Loyola School of Theology in Manila.
For more information about the programme, go to www.freewebs.com/johnjshea
For application details, contact Fr John Shea at johnjsheasj@gmail.com