Like old friends catching up after some time apart, 32 Jesuits and two laypersons reconnected for the third module of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific’s Leadership Development Programme (LDP). This module held from November 13 to 19 built on the earlier modules on understanding one’s leadership style, strategic planning and team building.
Managed by the Ateneo de Manila University’s Center for Organizational Research and Development (CORD), the four-module programme aims to form and groom effective and competent leaders in Jesuit ministries who are rooted in the Ignatian tradition of service.
Gathering this time at the Syantikara Youth Centre in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, they spent almost a week learning various aspects of operational management. Fr Johnny Go SJ opened the module with a talk on “7 First Pickings” from GC 36. Using Pope Francis’ theme of “depth in ministries”, participants were asked to consider their ministries as ministries of (1) consolation of the Gospel, (2) mercy and compassion for suffering men and women, (3) discernment “under the influence of the good spirits”, (4) finding God in all things, (5) reconciliation based on justice, (6) passion and a Jesuit life “open to wide horizons” and (7) companionship.
Dr Edna “Bo Peep” Franco followed with a full day session on Human Resource Management during which many Jesuit participants realised that embedded in the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus is a human resource document, proving that Ignatius was a man far ahead of his time. His emphasis on cura personalis is reflected in contemporary HR management practices.
Two days were spent on critical thinking and practical problem solving. Ramon “Jet” Magsaysay guided them through some reflections using tools applied to cases from their various ministries.
A refreshing break from the analysing and brain-storming came in the form of a field trip to the mountain village of Prontakan, Sumber where they visited a village agricultural school and met the students and teachers. Mass that evening was celebrated in the Church of St Antonius, Muntilan, one of the earliest Jesuit churches in Indonesia. Fr Kristiono Purwadi SJ, the parish priest, is a participant of LDP. After the Mass, the participants were able to spend some time with parishioners over dinner. Some also took the opportunity to tour the onsite museum to learn more about the early presence of the Jesuits in Indonesia. A bus ride back to Yogyakarta ended the day that, for many, was the highlight of this module.
The last two days of the module were devoted to discernment and decision-making. Using various organisational tools, Mr Magsaysay guided the participants in identifying the root causes of problems and different methods of solving them. Financial management was also covered. Fr Rudi Bambang SJ was among the speakers who showed the participants the importance of not just budgeting but funding and resource mobilisation.
In his synthesis at the end of the week, Fr Go encapsulated the discussions in Ignatian terms – cura personalis for human resource management, Ignatian discernment for critical thinking and problem solving, the Jesuit vow of poverty for financial management and apostolic magis for resource mobilisation. Participants were then invited to prayerfully reflect on their experience and discern where God is calling them through this programme thus far.
The participants are looking forward to putting their newly acquired skills to practice in their mission and ministries.
“For the Christian, leadership is about defining and refining one’s call to be a good shepherd, fully aware of one’s imperfections but courageously striving and struggling in the footsteps of the Saviour in leading His flock onwards,” said Fr Alvin Ng, a participant from the Malaysia-Singapore Region.
For the LDP participants, the journey continues.
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Forming Ignatian leaders for Asia Pacific
Equipping Jesuit and lay collaborators to become better leaders