Tales from the Bangkok Immigration Detention Centre
25 Mar 2015

Tales from the Bangkok Immigration Detention Centre

by | posted in: Social Justice | 0

The Bangkok Immigration Detention Centre is neither a prison nor a jail. It is the last barrier for non-Thais awaiting deportation back to their home countries, after finishing their prison sentences or paying court-imposed fines.

These detainees have, for the most part, entered Thailand illegally.  How long they will be in the detention centre depends on many factors – the regulations of their country’s embassy/consulate, their travel documents, a plane ticket, and whether they are physically fit for the flight home.

Increasing collaboration on disaster risk reduction and management
25 Mar 2015

Increasing collaboration on disaster risk reduction and management

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

The Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP) is developing a protocol that outlines steps for Jesuits in responding to disasters in this part of the world. Responses to catastrophic events are collaborative in nature, joining local efforts and guiding important international support. This is an ongoing process with other organisations and there is much learning from the experiences of Jesuits on the ground. The effort is also to find ways to collaborate across different phases in disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) that demand a wider range of coordination beyond disaster.

SLB renews commitment to a faith that does justice
24 Mar 2015

SLB renews commitment to a faith that does justice

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

Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB), the social justice arm of the Philippine Jesuit Province marked 29 years of service to the Church and the Filipino nation recently with a week-long celebration themed “Renewing a Faith that does Justice”. 

Over the years, SLB has evolved and developed programs in response to the needs of Philippine society, and the celebration from February 21 to March 1 was an opportunity to showcase current programs and introduce new ones.

Building a church in the middle of nowhere
24 Mar 2015

Building a church in the middle of nowhere

by | posted in: Parishes & Pastoral Work, Province News | 0

In a village in Chiangmai Province sits a new church named after St Willibrord, the patron saint of Luxemburg.   Its name reflects how it came to be.  It had been built with the labour, heart and financial support of friends from Luxemburg, as well as friends from other lands, and no less than the Archbishop of Luxemburg, Jean Claude Hollerich SJ, presided at its blessing.

Moving from raising funds to winning partners in mission
23 Feb 2015

Moving from raising funds to winning partners in mission

by | posted in: JCAP News | 0

Development officers in our Conference left their meeting in Cambodia with renewed spirits and a fresh understanding of their work. Meeting together and sharing both successes and challenges had helped them realize that they are engaged in a common effort to support the mission not only of their own Province, but that of the Society in Asia Pacific and the world.  Fr Jorge Serrano SJ, Assistant Treasurer for Development Resources in Rome, had challenged them not to focus only on raising money, but rather on winning committed partners for the common mission.  

Jesuits help Scorsese with ‘Silence’
23 Feb 2015

Jesuits help Scorsese with ‘Silence’

by | posted in: JCAP News | 0

Irish Jesuit Brian Mac Cuarta SJ and the staff of the Roman Jesuit Archives (Archivum Romanum Societatis Iesu – ARSI) are cooperating closely with the production team at Paramount Pictures to provide a key artefact for Silence, a film adaptation of Shūsaku Endō’s novel about Catholicism in 17th century Japan, directed by Martin Scorsese (pictured here). To date the nature of the artefact has not been divulged.

Kidnapped Jesuit released by Taliban
23 Feb 2015

Kidnapped Jesuit released by Taliban

by | posted in: Beyond JCAP, Migration | 0

Indian Jesuit Fr Alexis Prem Kumar SJ has been released by the Taliban after eight months in captivity. Fr Prem had worked for three years as Afghanistan country director for Jesuit Refugee Service in Herat province when he was abducted by gunmen in June last year.