Reaching out to Myanmar after Cyclone Komen
5 Aug 2015

Reaching out to Myanmar after Cyclone Komen

by | posted in: Social Justice | 0

The landfall on July 30 of Cyclone Komen in Bangladesh brought strong winds and heavy rains to Myanmar, particularly to Rakhine and Chin States and Sagaing and Magway Regions in western Myanmar. More than one meter (40 inches) of rain that followed turned the floods into a major natural disaster. On August 3, the Ministry of Agriculture stated that 525,895 acres of farmland had been submerged. The Relief and Resettlement Department (RRD) of the Government of Myanmar put the number of deaths at 63 and displaced people at 200,000. But newspapers (e.g.

Reminded of who we are called to serve
24 Jul 2015

Reminded of who we are called to serve

by | posted in: JCAP News | 0

Dear friends,

At last week’s assembly of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific the major superiors reflected on Laudato si’ and issued a declaration that seeks to animate a lively response in Asia Pacific.  We urge all Jesuits in our Conference, our colleagues, and all those we seek to serve, to make a thoughtful and generous response to Pope Francis’ plea to reconcile with creation, which is one of our apostolic priorities.

Stoic determination after a historic disaster
24 Jul 2015

Stoic determination after a historic disaster

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

Relief work continues three months after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Nepal on April 25. The disaster killed thousands and demolished more than half a million homes. A few weeks later, on May 12, a second major earthquake struck just as people were beginning to recover. The death toll from the two quakes stands at close to 9,000 people. 

Networking Jesuit universities
23 Jul 2015

Networking Jesuit universities

by | posted in: Education | 0

Earlier in July, Jesuits and their representatives from around the world met in Melbourne, Australia to develop ways to expand collaboration among Jesuits in higher education.  Fr Joel Tabora SJ, a speaker during the conference and current chair of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU-AP), shares here some of his insights following the international event.

Thai Jesuit education project on the way
23 Jul 2015

Thai Jesuit education project on the way

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

With the cooperation and support of a considerable circle of lay experts as well as the advice of Jesuit educators in Asia Pacific, the Jesuits in Thailand are embarking on an ambitious education project to serve the poor, especially the indigenous communities in the northern mountains of the country.  An assistant professor at Mae Fah Luang University in Chiang Rai has been hired to conduct a feasibility study that will help the Jesuits work out many of the details of the proposed college.  It should be completed in August. 

Ten new Jesuit priests in Korea
22 Jul 2015

Ten new Jesuit priests in Korea

by | posted in: Formation, Province News | 0

The Korea Jesuit Province celebrated the ordination of 10 new priests on July 1. More than 2,000 people participated in the ordination mass concelebrated by Most Rev Gyoung-chon Timothy Yu, Auxiliary Bishop of Seoul, and 160 priests, at Myung-dong Cathedral in Seoul, South Korea. During his homily, Bishop Yu reminded the newly ordained Jesuits of the Jesuit charism to be contemplatives in action that makes Jesuit priesthood possible. 

The joy in the struggle
22 Jul 2015

The joy in the struggle

by | posted in: JCAP News | 0

Timorese Scholastic Edgerio Martins SJ spent five years in India studying for his undergraduate degree in visual communication and graduate degree in philosophy at Loyola College, Chennai. He recently returned home for his Regency. He shares here some of the challenges he faced during his time in India and how he found beauty and strength in his struggle.  

Statement on Laudato si’
19 Jul 2015

Statement on Laudato si’

by | posted in: Social Justice | 0

We, the major superiors of the Jesuit Conference Asia Pacific, sincerely and enthusiastically welcome Pope Francis’ new encyclical Laudato si’ (On the Care of Our Common Home). He draws attention to the urgent need for reconciliation with creation, already one of our apostolic priorities in Asia Pacific. We urge all the members of our Conference, our colleagues, and all those we seek to serve to make a thoughtful and generous response to the Holy Father’s plea.