Mr Murayama Hyōe took his first vows at Mass celebrated by Fr Provincial Shogo Sumita at Kamishakujii, Japan on March 21. The night's rainstorm gave way to a fine day as a sign to the new scholastic of the many blessings from God and from the 40 Jesuit joining him in the Mass.
On their way to China for a meeting, Fr Adam Zak (PME), the assistant of Fr. General for Central Europe, and Fr Antoine Kerhuel (GAL), the assistant for Western Europe, visited Cambodia on April 10 to 15. The purpose of the visit is to get to know the Society of Jesus in other assistancies.
On June 21, Fr Irsan Rimawal (IDO) made his final vows at the Maria Della Strada Novitiate Chapel. He then took over Fr Wardi Saputra (IDO) as Novice Director for the Myanmar Mision. Fr Wardi is now on sabbatical – two semesters of the New Directions program at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University, USA.
Australian Catholic University (ACU) intends to offer the Diploma in Liberal Studies to a new cohort of refugee students on the Thai- Burma border in 2010-2011. Coordinator, Duncan MacLaren, visited Thailand in February 2010, partly to tutor on the Third World Politics unit offered online by Fairfield University, Connecticut, partly to set up interviews to select a new cohort of students starting in late September 2010. The refugee students may now be joined by another important group among ‘people on the move’ – migrants, both legal and illegal.
Jesuit Commons is an initiative spearheaded by Mr Chris Lowney, author of the books "Heroic Leadership" and "Heroic Living". It was presented at the International Conference on Jesuit Higher Education in Mexico last April 22 – 24. Mr Lowney personally invites Jesuits and lay partners to be a part of Jesuit Commons.
The Seven Fountains Spirituality Center in Chiang Mai, Thailand witnessed the gathering of a few of the Jesuits who are engaged in the area of Buddhism. It was for them, a first-time opportunity to communicate with fellow brothers face to face. The occasion was the Workshop on Buddhist-Christian dialogue held last April 23 – 25. The participants including Fr. Mark Raper were ten, of which two were from India. Fr Cyril Veliath (JPN), JCAP Coordinator for Dialogue with Buddhism, gave this report.
To promote a Jesuit's capacity to enter into dialogue with Muslims, the Conference has set up a new program, the Asia Pacific Theological Encounter Program on Islam.
The Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP) has developed a communications action plan aimed at pooling its resources, strengthening communications skills and articulating its vision and purpose in a unified way.
At a recent creative communications workshop held in Manila, professionals from the Philippines, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan, East Timor, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Australia showcased their products and discussed ways in which they could work together to improve their communications function.
An introduction to a four-part documentary by Kuangchi Program Service on Paul Xu Guangqi (1562 -1633), a rural Shanghai man who rose to the office of Grand Secretary of the Ming Dynasty Emperor and is known as the forerunner of modern science in China.
His friendship and collaboration with European Jesuit missionaries, especially the renowned Matteo Ricci, is the first instance of real cultural dialogue between China and the West. This video was uploaded to YouTube by user mhikejso.
Fr. John Hayes was 36 years old when he died. He is buried in grave 7A. F. 24, Taukkyan War Cemetery, outside Yangon (formerly Rangoon) in Myanmar (Burma). He was the only Irish Jesuit chaplain to have died during the Second World War.