All members of the Myanmar Jesuit Mission residing in the country gathered for the first time to share their thoughts and experiences of the Mission. The three-day gathering in late December provided the group with an opportunity to meet and share their experience as Jesuits, deepen their understanding of the mission, and explore the future needs of the Church in Myanmar and the role of the Society of Jesus in that future. The rapid changes taking place in the country make this a matter of urgency for the Church and the Society.
Fr Toto Fortunatus Parwoto SJ, an Indonesian Jesuit and member of the organizing committee, said that this was an initial step for the mission to build a stronger community and to plan for the future. “The members of the community had chances to share their dreams and thoughts for the mission, according to the reflection guide: What is my mission and what is our mission? How do I see myself and my role in the mission? Who are the people in Myanmar we wish to serve? What outcomes do we desire from our mission? What more can we do for the people of Myanmar in its particular context?” he said.
The Jesuit Mission in Myanmar has been moving and changing in response to the needs of the Church in the country. The nature of the mission is also changing as the number of Myanmar Jesuits increases. The first local Jesuit priest was ordained in 2013 and two deacons are due to be ordained priests in April and May 2014. More local Jesuits are in formation. Besides the scholastics doing regency in Myanmar, there are scholastics in Jakarta, Manila and Cagayan de Oro in varying stages of formation. In addition, there are now 14 Jesuit missionaries, from Australia, Korea, India, Indonesia and Malaysia, serving in Myanmar.
The work of the mission is also evolving with the rapid changes taking place in the country. Currently, the Jesuits run two English language schools, Saint Aloysius Gonzaga in Taunggyi and Campion Institute in Yangon, as well as Arrupe Research Centre, a project among slum dwellers and a micro credit project for farmers in Laputta. The Mission has the Maria de La Strada Novitiate in Taunggyi and a Candidate house in Yangon.
With different pastoral works in different places, it was important for the members of the Mission to gather as friends in the Lord.
The responses, thoughts and reflections on the theme, “What have I done, what am I doing, what am I going to do for the Suffering Christ”, were rich and varied. One group expressed the wish that the mission serve the poor, younger generation, farmers, internally displace person and returnees and serve people through education, training and mass media. Another said that it wished for members of the mission to become experts in Burmese language.
Korean Regent Francis Xavier SJ, who has been in Myanmar for nearly a year serving the students in Yangon, recognized this event as a time for being together as community in mission. “The gathering was a grace-filled opportunity, for me and for all of us, to see how the universal society of Jesus as one body can be realized here in Myanmar. We are from different countries, different cultures, different ages, but we’re all Jesuits and work together for the Myanmar Mission in the name of Jesus Christ. When we were talking about probable new governance on the last day of the meeting, we could realize that it was not us but the Holy Spirit who lets us be here in Myanmar together, coming all the way from Thailand, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Korea and Australia,” he said.
Myanmarese scholastic Michael Zai Wa Tu Aung SJ, who is doing the philosophy studies in the Philippines, found it exciting and interesting to “look into the future”, which was the theme for the third day. “It is very exciting for Myanmar Mission as the country is moving forward and as it is opening up to the rest of the world after such long isolation. Myanmar Mission is growing in manpower with the first ordained priest, Fr. Wilbert, and scholastics coming back after doing philosophy in foreign countries. It is exciting for the Mission ‘to read the signs of the times’ to serve the people of God more fruitfully,” he said.
For Stalin Joseph SJ, a scholastic from Madurai Province, India, who is serving in SAG English School, the gathering was an enriching experience. “This meeting helped me to have better understanding of the mission and its collaboration with the nearby regions. The three-day meeting made me reflect on my call as a Jesuit,” he said, adding that corridors are opening for young Jesuits to involve themselves more in the social apostolate where they meet the poor and needy of the country. He felt too that the discussion of collaboration was a call to young Jesuits in formation “to train, educate, equip ourselves to face the challenges of the world in the future. This reminds scholastics to use the opportunities to take up more training and courses in their formation.“
The 27 Jesuits were joined by several members of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific – Fr Mark Raper SJ, JCAP President and Regional Superior for Myanmar; Fr Simon Yi SJ, Socius of the JCAP President; Fr Bambang Sipayung SJ, Director of JRS Asia Pacific; Fr Pitoyo SJ, Superior of the Thailand Region who came with two other members of the Region, Fr Beda SJ and Fr Vichai SJ ; and Fr Simon Yong SJ from Malaysia-Singapore Region. 
The novices, who are Thai and Myanmese, joined the group for the social and recreational portions of the gathering, entertaining everyone with a balloon launching during the barbecue and with a light hearted musical performance.