Frs. Adolfo Nicolás (JPN) and Daniel Patrick Huang (PHI) are the region’s representatives to the Coetus Praevius. The first meeting is scheduled on March 15 at the Roman Curia.
Fr John Mace went to Singapore to visit the East Timorese novices last December 20-22. On December 23 he arrived in Korea for the Korean Province Congregation and returned to Dili on January 2.
On January 1st, he officially became the East Timor Regional Superior.
Dec. 23, 2006: December is really a busy month for novices, both first and second year. Fr. Master Wardi Saputra has been away since November 16 till now. He just met and had lunch personally with Fr General. He intends to go to Amsterdam.
The past holiday season was celebrated by the Arrupe community in several ways. For some, the Christmas season was a time for rest, while for others it was a busy season for many different reasons.
Before the Christmas break, some of our Philosopher brothers had to write a synthesis paper, in an attempt to answer in their own terms the question, “What is Philosophy?” While some of our brothers had to write several papers during the Christmas break as assignments.
On December 22 to January 3, the 10th Scholastics and Brothers-in-formation Circle (SBC) Meeting was held at the Good Shepherd Catholic Seminary in Melaka, Malaysia. The theme of the meeting was “Migration, Urbanization: Our Vision, Passion, and Compassion in the Jubilee Year of the First Companions”.
Dec 1, 2006: Today was the second day of an international symposium here in Macau, to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of Alessandro Valignano. This Italian Jesuit was appointed Visitor (major superior) for all the Far East when still in his thirties and a Jesuit for less than ten years. He is the one who first decided for a policy of inculturation both in Japan and in China. He is the one who asked Matteo Ricci to come to China. The symposium is focused on the first century of our missions in Japan and China, and compares what happened in both countries.
Our beloved Fr Eugenio Matis has returned peacefully to the Lord on December. 17, the Gaudete Third Sunday of Advent in Macau.
The vigil mass was on December 20 celebrated by Fr Howard Lui the Jesuit superior of Macau, and the funeral Mass was on December 21 by Bishop Lai of Macau.
We ask Fr Matis to pray for us in heaven that we will be filled with joy at the birth of Our Savior.
On December 5, Fr Matthias Chae received Fr General’s approval for him (Fr Chae) to appoint Fr Gabriel Byong-young JE as Korea Provincial’s Delegate for Cambodia. Fr Je visited Cambodia last December 11-22. The effectivity of Fr Je’s appointment will be on March 19, the Feast of St Joseph, the Family Man.
On October 21, Fr Jim Meehan (PHI), departed for Chiang Mai, Thailand to attend a four-day meeting of the Asian Liturgy Forum. This forum brings together representatives of various local churches to discuss the progress of liturgical renewal throughout Southeast Asia. About fifty persons attended the meeting, including delegates from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Cambodia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Thailand. After the meeting, Fr. Jim made his eight-day Annual Retreat at Seven Fountains, the Jesuit Retreat House in Chiang Mai.
In the afternoon of October 11th, EAPI held its annual alumni homecoming with some 80 guests that included past participants, former staff members and visiting lecturers. EAPI was bursting at the seams when the current participants, M.A. and English students, and the staff members joined the guests for the activities.