Much more than words, a picture can tell the stories of dozens of people with their own unique cultural and historical identities, and even the call to follow Christ radically, especially if the picture is the community photograph of Arrupe International Residence 2011-2012. It carries narratives about the lives of Jesuits from 15 nations (China, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Palau, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor Leste and the United States of America) with diverse histories and cultures, living together harmoniously as one community in one universal Society of Jesus.
Transcending political and geographical boundaries, the photograph gives witness to the awesome reality that these Jesuits have journeyed together in unity to follow Christ radically, sharing among themselves happiness as well as struggles and hopes, while being in different stages of formation in the Society. They have gathered in one community so that they can be sent out for mission, which may be diverse in nature and in location, depending upon the formative stages of the Jesuits concerned.
After the successful completion of the 2011-2012 formation and academic year, at end of March and the beginning of April 2012, the members of the community are sent out to different nations for various kinds of mission – philosophical studies in Indonesia; regency in China, Timor Leste and Myanmar; theological studies in Taiwan; interreligious programmes in Thailand and Indonesia; and pastoral exposures in various parts of Asia. Except for those who have been sent to do philosophy, theology, and regency, all will return to the community by the end of May 2012 to continue their formation for the next year, contributing their own exciting experiences to another narrative-filled picture to be taken anew in the coming year.
Arrupe International Residence 2011 – a Reflection on the year in the areas of Formation, Prayer, Apostolate-Studies, Community, Ecology, and Youth.