Fr Ignatius Tambudzai SJ of the Zimbabwe-Mozambique Jesuit Province is one of the newest members of the community in Arrupe International Residence in the Philippines. He shares this reflection on his first months living with Jesuits from different parts of the world in this international house of formation as it celebrates its 25th year.
Before my arrival at Arrupe International Residence, my first impressions of the community were already shaped by my online correspondence with the superiors in the Philippines. The replies of the rector, Fr Rene Repole SJ, were prompt and inviting. The same was true for my communications with Fathers Joe Quilongquilong SJ and Eric Eusebio SJ, President and Vice President, respectively, of the Loyola School of Theology where I was hoping to do my licentiate. My encounter with Fr Mark Raper SJ, President of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific, was equally edifying. Halfway across the world, I already felt drawn to Asia Pacific and welcomed by both the university and the Jesuit community.
The experience of traveling beyond the boundaries of my continent of Africa was a mix of excitement and anxiety. Thankfully, the clarity of Fr Rector’s instructions on how to take a taxi from the airport was very helpful. Upon arrival, I was easily taken into the house by Anton Prathapraj, a Jesuit scholastic from Sri Lanka. He made sure that I had all that was needed. My guardian angel, Sch Emil Lucien SJ, also from Sri Lanka, was terrific in kindness, taking time to tour me around the house and the surroundings.
The Rector’s office was quick to handle the immigration issues by entrusting this work to Sherwin Santos, a Filipino scholastic. One would take him for a government immigration officer or some professional travel agent on account of his swiftness and confidence in offering immigration assistance. I had the feeling that the Rector is able to give responsibilities to others and fully empower them. Fr Tito Aria Prabantara SJ from Indonesia was also prompt in photographing the new arrivals who needed passport size photos; in barely a couple of hours the photos were ready.
It was evident that a great spirit of service and a joyful sharing of talents energised the community. Arman Samonte, the only Filipino scholastic in the residence, introduced us to Filipino music and dance. Charles Lwanga Ssekitooleko, a scholastic from Uganda, is another gentle and assuring presence, capable of caring for everyone, especially the large number of fellow African scholastics, now 10 in the house. One gets a feeling that during their stay at Arrupe Residence, certain Jesuit characteristics, especially that of cura personalis, are nurtured and developed.
Personally, I felt most welcomed when I was asked to celebrate one of the community masses, more specifically when I was given an opportunity to say my first mass at Mirador Jesuit Villa in Baguio This place is treasured as one of the important and historic places for Jesuits of Asia Pacific. It used to be an observatory for Jesuit scientists; it became a philosophate and theologate when China was less tolerant to the Jesuit mission; and it was, and still is, a villa and retreat house for Jesuits who need to rest and reflect.
The whole community went to pray together for the annual retreat and later to rest together at the same villa. I must confess that it was my first retreat experience in my entire formation where I saw the formators and the scholastics praying together – with the usually busy Minister Br Juan Ngiraibuuch SJ, the not-so-young Fr Tom O’Gorman SJ, and Fr Rector Repole. It was a complete presence of companions in the Lord, at prayer and at rest.
There are many things one can hope from life in Arrupe International Residence. But to encapsulate it in one word, I am hoping to attain, through my theological studies at LST and my interactions within this confraternity of 48 members, what Fr General Adolfo Nicolas SJ desires for all Jesuits in formation –depth.
The Arrupe International Residence celebrates its Silver Jubilee in 2015. Read about AIR’s 25th anniversary celebration here.
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