The ongoing Pastoral Renewal Program, which began in June, is practically on its last month. With 71 participants coming from 22 different countries of Asia and the Pacific, the program has branched out to two sub-courses on Contextualizing Theological Perspectives (CTP) and Exploring Pastoral Approaches (EPA). The program will end with an 8-day retreat with Fr Sebastian Painadath from India.
There are now eight groups, five student groups and three groups of ex-students most of whom are working. The first group started in 1999. While the groups are young and fragile, there are some very dynamic young Cambodian Christians involved. There are also some Korean Jesuits, diocesan priests, a Filipino sister and a Hong Kong lay missionary involved as guides.
After a much-delayed flight from Manila, Fr John Mace arrived in Dili last November 18. He started to acquaint himself with the people and the place, in preparation for his work as Major Superior of the Independent Region of East Timor. Officially, he starts his job on New Year’s Day 2007.
In the afternoon of December 04, Nossas Memorias de Vida em Timor was launched. Written by Frs Joao Felgueiras and Jose Alves Martins, the book is the authors’ account of all that happened in East Timor from 1975 to the present. Among the guests were the President Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister José Ramos Horta, Bishop Basilio do Nascimento of Baucau, and Bishop Alberto Ricardo da Silva of Dili. Fr John Mace also witnessed the event. The book was published in Braga, Portugal.
Four young men will enter the novitiate of the Society of Jesus in Taunggyi, Myanmar, on May 1, 2007. On December 31, 2006, they will go to Yangon, Myanmar, and live with our candidates at Canisius House, and study English full time (with the candidates and other students) at our Jesuit Campion Institute. This intensive language course will be two to three months, after which they will have a short break to be back in Thailand with their families, and then return for the novitiate.
During the next three months (mid-November to mid-February), Fr Wardi Saputra will be gone from Myanmar for several activities and meetings. During his absence, Fr Agustinus Purwantoro serves as the acting local superior of the Jesuit community in Myanmar (including both Yangon & Taunggyi).
Fr Bob McTeigue, tertian from Maryland Province, left on November 26 for Yangon, where he will be working at the Language Institute and at the Major Seminary, until the end of March 2007, when he returns to the USA to complete his tertianship.
Due to problems of recurring fatigue, exhaustion, and loss of energy, Fr Paul Pollock was advised to get away for a break. Fr Paul is very happy to comply with this marvelous advice. He will be leaving by November 30 latest for Berkeley, California, for several weeks and will have a full physical check-up while there. During his absence, Fr Miguel Garaizabal will be the acting major superior; and at Xavier Hall, Fr Olivier Morin will be the acting minister.
The Jesuit Youth Commission of the Chinese Province is very happy to announce that the well-crafted documentary Life to the Full: The Jesuits of East Asia and Oceania, a production of JESCOM Foundation and Jesuit Conference Of East Asia and Oceania, is finally released in Chinese subtitles!
The content describes the apostolic works of the Jesuits of East Asia and Oceania. The program includes the following segments:
“Be the first to think! Be the first to act!” This is the motto of the website developed by the Jesuit Chinese-language monthly Renlai (sponsored by the Taipei Ricci Institute) which is now on line: www.erenlai.com.