“I am happy to have this time with you on my very first trip to Thailand!”
This was Fr Arturo Sosa’s opening speech during his meeting with the Jesuits in Thailand. Indeed, this was the Jesuit Superior General’s first visit to the country, during which, for over a week, he described himself as “a pilgrim” seeking to learn about the Society’s mission in this Region.
Alongside Father General were Fr Jose Magadia SJ (the Regional Assistant for Asia-Pacific), Fr Tomasz Kot SJ (the Regional Assistant for East/Central Europe), and Fr Robert Ballecer SJ (from the Communication Office in Rome).
Before travelling to the Jesuit communities, Father General spent his first two days, from 21 to 22 July, listening, praying, and discussing with his Jesuit brothers at the Seven Fountains Spirituality Center in Chiang Mai. On the first day, 34 Jesuits (three couldn’t make it because they are in formation abroad) and two female lay partners presented their ministries, which included the intellectual apostolate, spirituality, formation for young people, and social justice.
In the afternoon, Father General met privately with the 23 Jesuits in formation, 11 of whom are already priests. While expressing how delighted he was to see many young Jesuits in Thailand, he encouraged them not to forget to be entirely open to God, who guides them in what they can contribute to the Church and Thai society. Fr Sosa reminded them, “You are not the future of the Society, you are the PRESENT!”
After visiting the Jesuit apostolates in Thailand and listening to the people, he delivered his reflection the next day. He emphasised that “though our Jesuit numbers (in Thailand) are still small, there is hope,” especially through Jesuit formation efforts and apostolates in the country. He then invited all the Jesuits to reflect on two interrelated words: mission and discernment.
First, Father General introduced the term “life-mission,” implying that the Jesuit’s ministry is not just about “doing” but, most importantly, “their way of living”. He gave an example of St Ignatius of Loyola and the First (Jesuit) Companions in the early 16th century, whose missions were rooted in their prayer and common discernment. He emphasised that the Jesuits’ life-mission involves “consistency” in living a good religious life, whether in private or in public; a sense of “community” that should be considered an apostolate itself; and “collaboration” with others in God’s mission.
Second, Fr General Sosa invited the Jesuits to recognise the importance of discernment in common. To do so, each person must have interior spiritual freedom. This freedom includes detachment from one’s work to enter the discernment process. In this way, the Jesuits in Thailand could be genuinely led by the Holy Spirit and come to know how to live their mission in Thailand.
At the end of the meeting, Father General reminded the Jesuits in Thailand not to lose hope. To maintain that hope, we must “remain close to Jesus,” who is their source of strength.
