Fr Primitivo “Jun” E Viray Jr SJ has been named as the next President of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP), taking over from Fr Antonio Moreno SJ who has served in the role since 2017. In a decree dated 13 June, Fr General Arturo Sosa SJ expressed confidence in Fr Viray’s “integrity and prudence” to lead JCAP. The exact date of the handover has yet to be determined.
As President, Fr Viray will be collaborating with the Major Superiors in the Jesuit conference in implementing the decrees of the last General Congregations. He will likewise serve as the Major Superior of the Jesuits in Pakistan, the newest mission territory of JCAP.
Fr Viray is currently the Provincial of the Philippine Jesuit Province. Born in Quezon City, Philippines, he completed his basic education at the Jesuit-run Sacred Heart School for Boys in Cebu. He then earned a BS in Business Economics at the University of the Philippines before joining the Society of Jesus in 1984. He holds an MA in Rural Development Studies from the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK, as well as a doctorate in Development Studies.
Fr Viray has a wealth of apostolic experience in education, advocacy for the poor, and formation work, which he brings with him in his new role as JCAP President. He previously served as Assistant Director and later Director of the Prenovitiate programme in Haggerty Hall from 1989 to 1991 and Arvisu House from 1992 to 1994. After being ordained to the priesthood in 1995, he served as Assistant Parish Priest and Parish Priest in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay. He then taught Economics at Ateneo de Zamboanga University, where he became Local Superior and was Delegate of Regents from 2006 to 2009.
After his time in Zamboanga, Fr Viray served as Rector of the Loyola House of Studies, where he also held the positions of Delegate for Formation and Vice-Superior of the Theologians subcommunity. In 2011, he was elected President of Ateneo de Naga University (AdNU) and assumed the role of Superior of the Jesuits in Naga. He was President of AdNU and Chair of the Jesuit Higher Education Commission prior to his appointment as Provincial.
During his term as Provincial, Fr Viray responded to an invitation from Bishop Pablo Virgilio David and sent Jesuits to the Sacred Heart Mission Station of the Diocese of Kalookan. This enabled Jesuits to have greater engagement with the marginalised, including those affected by the war on drugs. Additionally, he chairs the Myanmar Desk, which helps to raise awareness about the escalating conflict in the country and mobilises resources to provide essential humanitarian support for those affected.
“I thank Fr Jun for his generous availability and readiness to accept this new mission. Given his gifts, the conference is in good hands with the grace of God. I am confident that he will be the leader that JCAP needs in the years to come,” said Fr Moreno.
As JCAP President for six years, Fr Moreno facilitated the strengthening of the governance of developing Jesuit regions, and oversaw the development of the apostolic works of the conference amidst the unique challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. He led the discernment of the JCAP apostolic plan, which highlights 10 priorities of the conference until 2025. He fostered greater collaboration and synergies among conference members, recognising the evolving demands of the mission in the Asia Pacific region.