Giving up plastic straws in response to Laudato si’
23 Aug 2016

Giving up plastic straws in response to Laudato si’

by | posted in: Province News, Reconciliation with Creation, Social Justice | 0

When the Jesuits in Cambodia gathered for the usual days of prayer, discussions and celebrations in honour of St Ignatius this year, one interesting outcome was the decision to practise a unified, symbolic action to strengthen the Jesuit witness of working for ecological conversion. Such would be a communal response to the Holy Father’s invitation towards care for our common home in Laudato si’.  So, during the meeting held from July 27 to 29, they decided that this symbolic action would take the form of giving up the use of plastic straws.

Jesuit colleges and universities commit to promoting institutional collaboration on sustainability in Asia Pacific
22 Aug 2016

Jesuit colleges and universities commit to promoting institutional collaboration on sustainability in Asia Pacific

by | posted in: Education, Reconciliation with Creation, Social Justice | 0

The Jesuit focus on sustainability in Asia Pacific is gaining momentum. Just two days after the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific’s first sustainability conference, the chief executive officers of Jesuit institutions of higher learning agreed that their network would be the institutional home of JCAP’s sustainability movement. 

A new Jesuit priest ordained in Timor-Leste
22 Aug 2016

A new Jesuit priest ordained in Timor-Leste

by | posted in: Formation, Province News | 0

July 30 was a day for rejoicing for the Jesuits of the Jesuit Independent Region of Timor-Leste, and not just because of the Feast of St Ignatius the next day.  That Sunday was the ordination to the priesthood of Sidelizio (Side) Ornai Pereira SJ, and every Jesuit in the country travelled to his hometown of Baucau to celebrate the first Timorese Jesuit ordination to the priesthood since 2010.  Jesuits from other parts of Asia Pacific also travelled to Timor-Leste for the ordination.

Sustainability in the youth
22 Aug 2016

Sustainability in the youth

by | posted in: JCAP News, Reconciliation with Creation, Social Justice | 0

Small-scale farming and indigenous practices in the uplands of Asia are not very sustainable and a great majority of the youth wants out.  Given the marginalisation and oppression that still rule in many of these environments with exploitation by corporate “sustainable” logging and mining firms, armed groups, corporate agricultural practices, infrastructure and seeping globalisation, farming life is not a question of success but of survival.

Rediscovered Jesuit journal sheds light on introduction of Western science into China
22 Aug 2016

Rediscovered Jesuit journal sheds light on introduction of Western science into China

by | posted in: Beyond JCAP | 0

The personal journal of Jesuit priest and scientist Sabatino de Ursis (1575-1620), a successor of Matteo Ricci in the Ming court of China, was rediscovered recently in the royal library of Ajuda in Lisbon, Portugal.

The journal brings a new understanding of how Western science was introduced into China during the Ming dynasty, and of his treatise, “Hydromethods of the Great West”, which was published in Beijing in 1612 and sponsored by important Ming scholar-officials. The treatise includes a preface by Xu Guangqi, distinguished scientist and collaborator of Matteo Ricci.

Continuing to accompany the “stranger” in Thai prisons
21 Aug 2016

Continuing to accompany the “stranger” in Thai prisons

by | posted in: Province News, Social Justice | 0

For 25 years, the Jesuit prison ministry in Thailand has been accompanying foreign prisoners primarily through providing counselling and companionship. Today, the programme serves about 1,200 prisoners spread across in 10 prisons in Bangkok and other provinces, and two prison hospitals.

This year, the team encountered a number of challenges.

Finding gratitude in MAGIS
15 Aug 2016

Finding gratitude in MAGIS

by | posted in: Province News, Spirituality | 0

The two and a half weeks of MAGIS and World Youth Day have greatly influenced my spiritual mind and my point of view of the world. When I first saw the poster for the meeting, I was in Paris, France studying as an exchange student. Thinking that it would be difficult to attend since I was not with the Korea group, I envied those who could participate in it and quickly forgot about the event.