Jesuits across Asia Pacific have planned various activities to commemorate the bicentennial of the Restoration of the Society of Jesus. In 1814, Pope Pius VII ordered the restoration of the Society, which had been suppressed in 1773 by Pope Clement XIV.
Globally the year-long celebration of the bicentennial began on January 3, at the mass for the feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, which Pope Francis celebrated with fellow Jesuits at the Church of the Gesù in Rome.
In a letter dated November 14, 2013, Father Adolfo Nicolás, Superior General of the Society of Jesus, wrote, “I pray that our grateful commemoration of this 200th anniversary of the Society’s reestablishment might be blessed with a deeper appropriation of our way of life and a more creative, generous and joyful commitment to give our lives in service for the greater glory of God.”
Encouraged by the Father General to commemorate the anniversary “with humble and sincere gratitude to the Lord, with a desire to learn from our history, and as an occasion for spiritual and apostolic renewal”, many of the planned activities cater to both Jesuit communities and their lay partners.
Symposia, seminars and assemblies are planned, as well as reflections and retreats and community celebrations.
In March, the Matteo Ricci Institute in Macau will hold a seminar focused on understanding the Suppression in Europe and reflecting on the Suppression from the perspective of the Chinese Province. The institute will also host a 3-day international symposium in October that will focus on the history of the Restoration in east-central Europe, Russia, China and the United States. There will also be a three-day symposium in Hong Kong.
The Korean Jesuits are also planning a symposium, to be held in the second half of the year, and all communities will set aside time for reflection and renewal.
The Malaysia-Singapore Region will have a seminar with lay collaborators in May, with Jesuit historian Fr Tony de Castro SJ as the main presenter, and a retreat later in the year.
The Japan Province will mark the anniversary with province assemblies – on July 31 for the Jesuits in the western area, and on December 26 for those residing in Tokyo.
The Australian Province will be publishing various writings on the Suppression and Restoration, while the Thai Region is translating some Jesuit books into Thai.
In Indonesia, papers from a seminar held in December 2013 have been published in a book for lay partners. A reflection gathering is planned in Yogyakarta in March, and celebrations in July and October with lay partners.
For the Philippine Province, the bicentennial was an opportune time to develop the Province roadmap. Several activities are planned throughout the year including conferences and talks on the Suppression and Restoration of the Society, art exhibits, plays, a roadshow of Jesuit music and a major concert. A video, 200 Years after Restoration, was produced and released in January.
The Vietnam Province also celebrates in 2014 the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Jesuits in the country. For the bicentennial, the Vietnamese Jesuits have planned Province retreats, a study on Jesuit history, a recollection for collaborators, and a talk in the scholasticate.
Myanmar and Timor Leste will mark the anniversary with retreats.
Related article: Philippine Jesuits begin commemoration of the Restoration
Links for more information on the Suppression and Restoration of the Society of Jesus
~ Dedicated website on the 200th anniversary of the Suppression and Restoration of the Society of Jesus, featuring the history, key figures, and commemoration events around the world: www.sj2014.net.
~ The Jesuit Archives in Rome – special webpage to mark the Restoration
~ British Jesuits calendar highlighting some prominent Jesuits in the last 200 years, which also offers reflections on the life of the 12 Jesuits selected: calendar2014.jesuit.org.uk