Fr Charles Sim blessing the children of Sapuk in Chuuk

The Jesuits of Micronesia and Fiji warmly welcome Indonesian Scholastic Tomas Becket (TB) Pramudita Praba SJ for Regency at Xavier High School in Chuuk. The partnership between the Indonesian Jesuit Province and the Jesuit Mission in Micronesia goes back more than four decades. The first Indonesian Regent arrived in Micronesia in the 1970s, and since then more than 20 Regents have served in the mission.

Scholastic Tomas Becket Pramudita Praba SJ

Scholastic TB is completing his philosophy studies, and will go on a retreat, and then a home visit before flying to Guam in the first week of August to seek entrance to the Federated States of Micronesia. He will join fellow Indonesian Benicdiktus Juliar Elmawan SJ who is also a Regent at Xavier High School.

With the arrival of TB is the departure of Fr Charles Sim SJ, who left Chuuk to return to Singapore. Fr Sim arrived in Chuuk in January 2020, where he served as Guidance Counsellor at Xavier High School. He made himself available for individual support to faculty members, and formed students to become peer counsellors. Fr Thomas Benz SJ, the former Superior of the Jesuits in Micronesia, recalled what Fr Sim would often say: “Students are more likely to bring problems first to other students before they bring them to adults.”

With his knowledge in marriage counselling and therapy, Fr Sim also started the Marital First Responders programme in the vicariates of Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Yap, where he trained parish workers, teachers, and seminarians with the core skills in providing help to friends and family members facing marital issues. His initiative is considered an innovation for the Diocese of the Caroline Islands.

Fr Charles Sim washing feet on Holy Thursday

“Charles has been generous and creative in applying his particular skills to the needs of the high school and the local Church,” said Fr Benz. “In a relatively short time, he shared gifts that will make a lasting difference in many Micronesian lives.”

Fr Sim will travel through Guam, have a short break in Seoul, and then return to Singapore. He has also been invited to Tianjin Normal University for a semester of training and teaching students wishing to learn about Marriage and Family Therapy.

Micronesia, which is a mission of the USA East Province, holds a special place in the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP). The superior of Micronesia is a member of the Conference of Major Superiors, and two of JCAP’s past presidents–Fr William McGarry SJ and Fr John Curran SJ–came from Micronesia.