Indonesian scholastic Anggun Sugiyono SJ left the recent Scholastics and Brothers Circle (SBC) meeting with a greater understanding of the universal mission and of himself. Now doing his Regency in Micronesia, Sch Anggun shares with us his reflection on the meeting.
Working as an Indonesian regent in Micronesia, I realize the importance of our universal mission as one Society of Jesus. This sense of universality became much clearer during the SBC meeting.
I was very excited to attend the meeting. I knew it would be an opportunity to share stories and experiences among Jesuits that would help grow, shape and strengthen my ministry as a regent in Xavier High School in Micronesia. True enough, I made many new friends not only from the provinces and regions in JCAP, but also from India and Uganda.
We were housed in the two-year old Colegio Santo Inacio de Loiola, the Jesuit secondary school.. The classrooms were our sleeping quarters, refectory, makeshift chapel (we named it St. Ignatius Chapel), and conference hall. In every sleeping quarter, there were five to six scholastics, which helped us develop a closer Jesuit friendship bond. I did not mind the lack of privacy sometimes not having electricity (which meant no Internet), the scarcity of water and the very humid rooms. I can now testify to what my Spiritual Director had told me, “The situation may be very difficult, and yet if there is friendship, the burden is lessened.”
My roommates were Anthony from Vietnam, Hugo and Tama from Indonesia, and Noel and Jun-G from Philippines. When I saw how my roommates prayed before and after sleeping, and how they worked even at night, and heard them say “Good morning!” or ask, “Are you tired?” I felt such profound friendship in the Lord. I felt that I was not a lone Jesuit. I felt that I belonged. I belong to the company of friends who share the same mission.
This friendship was highlighted during our immersion. Pius, a Korean scholastic, and I were assigned in Railaco Kraig, a sub-parish of Railaco where the Jesuits run a parish and school. The three days we spent there were memorable and significant. Pius and I lived in a simple Timorese house, sharing a bed, visiting other families, eating together, and celebrating Christmas Eve and Day. I thought communicating would not be a problem because I am an Indonesian and the Timorese speak Bahasa Indonesia. But, I was surprised to find that only the older Timorese speak Bahasa. It was very difficult for us to communicate with the Timorese.. Pius and I just smiled when words were no longer helpful.
I was also struck by the attitude of my fellow scholastics to their assigned manualia (daily chores). My brothers edified me every morning when I saw everyone doing their chores with magis. They gave their best even in the simplest work, from washing dishes to sweeping the corridors to cleaning showers and toilets. I saw such depth and creativity from them and I realized that Jesuits could be trusted not only in big matters but also in the most menial jobs.
In one of our sessions, Fr Mark Raper SJ, JCAP President, stressed to us that JCAP is on the ground. He said that no Jesuit should be working above the ground. I agree with him. We should all be on the ground and know the people we work with and for. We need to know their language and culture. We need to feel their emotions and desires. We need to dream with them. We need to work hand in hand with them. I can see this in the way the Jesuits go about their ministry in Timor Leste. Their projects and programs are fruits of their discernment and discovery of what the Timorese really need at this present time.
This SBC Meeting on youth ministry is apt. It is important to remember that the youth of today will be the leaders and prime movers of the future. In the video we watched on a young Timorese’s dream, hope was palpable. I was grateful to see that our Ignatian tradition is a gift to Timor Leste, and I felt so enriched in my vocation as a teacher, a missionary in Micronesia, a Jesuit.
In my two weeks in Timor Leste, I learnt what is important to me as a Jesuit: our companionship as Jesuits, our mission, and our call to be in the world. I felt ready to be sent anywhere at any time – such freedom, a gift from Timor Leste.
The Scholastics and Brothers Circle meeting was held in Timor Leste from December 20, 2014 to January 1, 2015. The 44 participants were from 12 of the provinces and regions in the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific and included two scholastics from India and Uganda.