Greetings of Peace!
We have been truly blessed this year. On 19 February, Fr General Arturo Sosa announced the four universal apostolic preferences (UAPs) that will orient and energise the life and mission of the Society of Jesus in the next 10 years. The UAPs are a result of a 16-month discernment process at all levels of the Society including the participation of companions in mission.
Fr General visited the Korean Province, Chinese Province and Japan Province in July and August. In his three-week visitation, he participated in the Major Superiors Assembly in Cheung Chau, Hong Kong. During the first half of the assembly, conference delegates, selected members of the apostolic secretariats and networks and other groups participated in assimilating further the universal apostolic preferences and discerning the JCAP apostolic plan. The following words were often repeatedly mentioned in the gathering: ‘listening’, ‘accompanying’, ‘humility’, ‘collaboration’, ‘walking’ and ‘learning’. In a word, there was great desire to pursue synodality, that is, journeying along the path together and being led by the Spirit.
The social ministries network beginning in August started to prepare for the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Social Justice and Ecology Secretariat (SJES). The high point of the celebration was a congress held in Rome from 04 to 08 November, which included an audience with Pope Francis. He urged the delegates from 62 countries of which 37 per cent were lay people to ‘remain close to the vulnerable ones’ and ‘to build bridges’ amid the brokenness and division in our world. Twenty delegates from our conference participated in this gathering.
Fifty-six participants attended the annual extended consult (14–16 October) held in Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, Philippines. It seems to have been the biggest number of extended consult participants so far. Of that number 70 per cent were Jesuits and 30 per cent were lay. Of the lay participants, roughly 70 per cent were women and 30 per cent were men. This consultation focussed on exploring possibilities and priorities for the new JCAP Plan (2020–2024) in the light of the UAPs. It was also an attempt to encourage the formation of different clusters with common apostolic interests.
We have 40 Jesuits in formation at Arrupe International Residence pursuing the first and second cycle studies at Loyola School of Theology. On 26 October, we witnessed the ordination to the diaconate of eight Jesuits at the Church of the Gesù, Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines. Four ordinands came from the Korean Province, two from the Philippine Province, one from the Vietnamese Province and one from the Myanmar Jesuit Mission.
Very recently Pope Francis visited Thailand (20-23 November) and Japan (23-26 November). These were life-giving moments for these two local churches that struggle with evangelisation, interreligious dialogue and increasing secularisation. His visits also occasioned informal and inspiring interactions with the local Jesuits.
On 06 December, the Major Superiors of the conference issued a statement in support for and in solidarity with the Jesuits, mission companions and the people of Hong Kong. The statement further invited them to ‘create spaces for dialogue and pursue the path of non-violence and peace.’
Christmas is a time to take stock prayerfully of God’s accompaniment in history: ‘The word became flesh and dwelt amongst us.’ We are on a journey, a kind of synod with Jesus, our companion, who made his dwelling in the depths of our humanity and in all of God’s creation to give us life and hope. The year 2019 has been greatly blessed by the accompaniment of the Spirit despite some detours and distractions. We can only remain deeply grateful for blessings received and hopeful for things to come.
Happy Christmas and Blessed 2020 to one and all!
Tony Moreno SJ
President, Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific
Christmas 2019