In the morning of December 6, scholastics and brothers in formation of the Vietnamese Jesuit Province warmly welcomed Superior General Fr Arturo Sosa SJ along with Regional Assistant for Asia Pacific Fr Danny Huang SJ and Regional Assistant for Western Europe Fr Victor Assouad SJ.

The group was visiting St Joseph Jesuit Scholasticate, the formation institute of the Vietnamese Jesuits, offering philosophy and theology programmes to Jesuits and seminarians of other congregations.

Fr General Sosa shared his joy in seeing many young Jesuits in the Province. “I am very happy to see you all, and I hope to listen to your voices and your sharing as well. I want to remind you that you are not just the future of the Society but the present”, he said.

He invited the young scholastics and brothers in formation to focus on following the main characteristics of a Jesuit’s way of life: collaboration, transparency, discernment in common and “magis”. He emphasised that “being a Jesuit is a way of life rather than a work to do”.

In response, some scholastics shared their gratitude of being Jesuits, as well as their burdens, challenges and tensions in their missions, studies and collaboration.

Fr General encouraged the scholastics to look towards new frontiers and yet to immerse deeper into their own cultural values at the same time. “Every culture has its own special value, and that is God’s instrument to fulfil his work”, he said.

The meeting with Fr General Sosa filled the formands with joy, inspiration and hope. As one scholastic shared: “I am deeply impressed by the friendliness of Father General. This conversation is really helpful for me since it reminds me to be more aware of my Jesuit vocation and mission.” [Jesuit Communications Vietnam]