Sometime after publishing the Indonesian translation of Walking with Ignatius, we had the precious opportunity of meeting Fr General Arturo Sosa SJ during the Synod of Bishops in Rome. Together with Fr Jose Cecilio Magadia SJ, Regional Assistant for Asia Pacific, and Fr Leo Agung Sardi SJ, Spiritual Director at the Collegio Internazionale del Gesù, we enjoyed an intimate hour-long conversation with Father General at the General Curia.
It was truly an impressive, affirming, and moving experience. The discussion on joint mission, collaboration, and accompanying young people struck us the most.
As he explains in Walking with Ignatius, Fr Sosa describes joint mission as not merely sharing in the mission of the Society of Jesus, as often carried out in various works within our institutions. Rather, it means Jesuits and the laity working together as instruments of God in carrying out His mission in the world, namely bringing the Good News to all. This mission belongs to the Jesuits, the Church, and all of God’s people.
Father General’s message resonated with us as laypeople working in the institutions of the Society of Jesus. It was a wake-up call, especially for some of us who see ourselves primarily as professionals in a Jesuit organisation. For Fr Sosa, simply contributing professional skills is not enough. Everyone involved in the Society’s works needs to take part in the meaning of the work, the distinctive identity, and the source of inspiration of the Society of Jesus. Working in Jesuit institutions means walking together as “companions in mission,” becoming witnesses to salvation through our daily work.
The consequence of this awareness of the “common mission” is collaboration between Jesuits and the laity. True collaboration goes beyond merely working together but involves giving oneself to engage and support one another. It is not about having many collaborators but about fostering openness, quality, depth, and sincerity in the process of working together.
For the Jesuits, the presence of lay colleagues serves as a kind of “vaccine” protecting against clericalism or feudalism. For the laity, having Jesuits alongside us acts as a “compass,” providing direction and purpose. Both parties need to be open to differences in perspective. Among the Jesuits, there also needs to be continued encouragement in navigating the challenges that come with sharing the mission with lay colleagues.
One challenge is introducing Ignatian Spirituality to Gen Y and Gen Z employees. Young professionals these days tend to be more focused on secular interests and career development. Sometimes, they feel that Ignatian Spirituality is “not that interesting” or relevant to their work. Father General emphasised that Ignatian Spirituality is a means for showing the way to God; it should not be forced on anyone. However, it is necessary to consistently integrate Ignatian formation into our institutions, especially for younger generations.
For example, he said, in Jesuit educational institutions, students from an early age are introduced to the basics of the Spiritual Exercises, such as the examen, reflection, and spiritual conversations. We should adopt a similar approach with our new employees, introducing Ignatian Spirituality early in their journey with us. Father General’s message reminded us of the importance of paying attention to the process and dynamics of Ignatian formation, starting from the moment employees join our organisation.
Our memorable meeting ended with dinner with members of the General Curia. We were grateful not only for the healthy food that satisfied us physically but even more for the inspiring message from Father General that satiated us spiritually. That night, we went home with deep consolation.
