Fr General Arturo Sosa SJ has appointed Indonesian Jesuit Fr Ignatius Wardi Saputra SJ as the next Rector of Arrupe International Residence (AIR) in Manila. He will take over from Fr Riyo Mursanto SJ, who has served as Rector since 2017.
Fr Wardi currently serves as Spiritual Director for seminarians at the St Paul Major Seminary in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. His extensive background in formation work includes eight years as Socius to the Novice Master and 11 years as a Novice Master in Myanmar, where he helped set up the novitiate.
Throughout his ministry, Fr Wardi has undertaken various responsibilities within the Indonesian Province, serving as a pastor, retreat giver, director of a retreat house, and member of the Social Ministry Commission. Additionally, he has contributed significantly as secretary and coordinator for the Ignatian Spirituality animation team.
AIR is the formation house of Jesuits in theology studies. It is home to some 40 Jesuits from across Asia Pacific and other parts of the world.
Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific President Fr Jun Viray SJ warmly welcomed Fr Wardi to the conference and thanked him for his availability and generosity in this new mission. He likewise thanked Fr Riyo for seven years of faithful and joyful accompaniment of the AIR formands and for his service as Formation Delegate.
Fr Wardi is expected to begin his new role as Rector of AIR in August.
