On January 06-07, the staff of the Arrupe International Residence met with Fr. Adolfo Nicolas (JPN), JCEAO President, at the Jansens Spirituality Center on the planning for the future of Arrupe International Residence.
After the meeting, the Arrupe House community held its delayed Kris Kringle party with the theme Companions on the Journey. The said party was postponed in consideration for those who attended the two-week 10th Scholastics and Brothers-in-formation Circle (SBC) Meeting in Melaka, Malaysia that began last December 21, 2006. The Arrupe Scholastics were divided into six groups, namely, Manresa, Montmarte, Navarre, Montserrat, Aranzazu, and the Loyola group, which comprises the theologians. The Arrupe staff, La Storta group, gave a song presentation. Dancing to the tune of “Be Friend,” composed by Schs. Joao Dos Santos (ETR) and Domingos Savio Freitas (ETR), the Montserrat group won the top prize of the competition.
On January 26, Arrupe House was graced with the visit of the family of Sch. Ernest Justin (IDO) from Indonesia. The party included his father, mother, and two brothers.
After the announcement on February 15 that Father General had appointed him to be the next Rector of Arrupe International Residence, Fr. Joseph Koichi Matsumoto (JPN) paid a brief visit to the community from February 21-24. As an initial step in getting to know the community and learn of their concerns and expectations, he personally met with all the staff, and attended the meetings of the community, the theologians, and the house consultors. Fr. Matsumoto will officially take up his new job on May 1, 2007.