Fr Benny Juliawan with Fr General Arturo Sosa during his visit to Indonesia in July

On 29 October, Fr General Arturo Sosa SJ appointed former Indonesian Provincial Fr Benedictus “Benny” Hari Juliawan SJ as the next Regional Assistant for Asia Pacific. He will succeed Fr José Magadia SJ, who has served as Regional Assistant since 2019.

Fr Juliawan entered the Society of Jesus in 1994, was ordained in 2005, and professed Final Vows in 2019. He holds an undergraduate degree in sociology from the University of Warwick and master’s and doctoral degrees in development studies from Oxford University.

His involvement in the social justice movement spans decades, dating back to his participation in the Reformasi Movement in Indonesia during his philosophy studies and his work with the Jesuit Refugee Service Indonesia helping East Timorese refugees.

Within our Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific, he has served in various roles, notably as Coordinator for the Migration Network from 2013 to 2017 and Secretary for Social Ministries from 2013 to 2018. In May 2020, he was appointed Provincial of the Indonesian Province, a role he held until July this year. During his term as Provincial, he also served as a consultor to the conference President. He is currently on sabbatical at the Panti Semedi Retreat House in Klaten, Indonesia.

In his letter to the major superiors, Fr General Sosa thanked Fr Magadia for his “commitment to the General Curia since 2013: first as General Counsellor for Formation in the Society for five years, and then as General Counsellor and Regional Assistant for Asia/Pacific for more than seven years”.

He also commended Fr Juliawan, together with all those who collaborate in the governance of the Society, to the prayers of everyone.

Fr Juliawan will take up his new role as Regional Assistant on 1 June 2027.