The Tertians of the combined Tertianship programme of the Jesuit conferences of Asia Pacific and South Asia arrived safely in Colombo on 31 August. Fr Risila Sachintha Fernando SJ, programme minister, warmly welcomed us at the airport.
This is the first time any of us have visited Sri Lanka. The fraternal hospitality extended to us at the Sri Lankan Province Curia in Negombo made us feel immediately at home.
We were then warmly received at Arrupe House in Kandy by our instructors, Fr Donald Miranda SJ and Fr Sajeev Jose Painunkal SJ, marking the beginning of our “school of the heart.”
The following day, we gathered for the official inauguration of our Tertianship with a Mass of the Holy Spirit presided over by Fr Angelo Sujeewa Pathirana SJ, Provincial of the Jesuits in Sri Lanka.
In his homily, Fr Pathirana invited us to cultivate a receptive mind and heart and to imbibe the spirit of St Ignatius and the Society of Jesus. Jesuits from neighbouring communities also joined us in prayer, making the occasion more joyful.
The current group includes 15 Tertians: eight from the Jesuit Conference of South Asia (India), five from the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (Korea, Vietnam, and Myanmar), one from the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar (Nigeria), and one from the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States (USA).
On 2 September, we had our community orientation guided by Fr Donald, which helped us to begin our common journey in a spirit of companionship and mutual support. With these first steps, our school of the heart has begun in joy, gratitude, and hope.
