Vocation promoters across the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP) continue to discuss inventive ways of encouraging young men to inquire about vocations in the Society of Jesus, and discern whether they have a vocation as a Jesuit priest or brother. This year’s meeting focussed on using new communications technology in vocation promotion.
JCAP Vocation Promoters Coordinator Fr Alberto Irenus SJ led the reflection and sharing of experiences by the 18 vocation promoters from 10 Jesuit provinces who gathered for the meeting held at the Wencui Missionary Center in Taipei from February 8 to 9. They shared their experiences in the use of social media, websites and other communication tools and had the opportunity to visit the studios of Kuangchi Program Service, the Jesuit video production centre in Taipei. KPS Vice President Fr Jerry Martinson SJ also discussed with them the programmes KPS had lined up for broadcast in Taipei and China through its partner stations.
From the sharing of experiences, the vocation promoters found that new communication technologies are best coupled with other methods of promotion. Fr Titus Tin Maung SJ from Myanmar shared that despite his efforts in promoting through social media, he continues to depend on “she-mails”, as he calls the ever-reliable help of religious sisters, in encouraging young men to consider the Jesuit vocation. The sisters, according to him, help him by scouting for good prospects for the candidacy programme.
Fr Norris Seenivasan SJ, JCAP Delegate for Formation, stressed to the group the need to collaborate with other Jesuits and lay partners especially since most of them have other tasks for their province on top of their work as vocation promoters. He cited the example of Magis Taiwan where Fr Pedro Chia SJ works with lay youth ministers to organise activities such as Magis Youth Mass, sports and spiritual formation sessions that allow young people to become familiar with Ignatian spirituality and hopefully in the long run to consider the Jesuit vocation.
Despite the difficulties and challenges, everyone remained hopeful about the prospects of promoting the Jesuit vocation. Fr Ignatius Suryadi Pradjitna SJ from Indonesia said that the increasing trend of young people seeking for meaning in life often leads them to discover God’s call in their lives. Fr Nguyễn Đình Khải SJ from Vietnam shared about the bright prospects of their candidacy programme that includes running 11 houses with each house having 10 or 11 resident candidates. Vocation camps and other activities involving the youth provide a rich source of prospects in many provinces.
However, as Fr Eric Escandor SJ reported, in the end, most of them realised that the best form of vocation promotions is their faithful witnessing to their religious vows and authentic following of Jesus Christ.
During the meeting, Fr Escandor from the Philippines was appointed the new coordinator of the JCAP vocation promoters meeting with Fr Pedro Chia SJ from Taiwan and Fr Yohanes Nugroho SJ from Indonesia as assistant coordinators. Their next meeting will be in Myanmar.
