If Ignatius were to go to Asia Pacific today, where would he go? To what and to whom would he dedicate his time?
This year’s meeting of the conference Extended Consult on November 21 and 22 in Manila was remarkably different from previous years for its use of Spiritual Conversations as the main tool for animating apostolic communal discernment. The members gathered not merely as an assembly of secretaries, coordinators and conveners tasked to make plans and implement them, but as a discerning body.
Throughout the two days, a good deal of time was spent for personal prayer. Participants pondered the lights and shadows during the year and the challenges they felt called to focus on in their secretariats or peer groups, and as a conference. Then breaking into small groups, they listened to each other with attention, reverence and openness, and shared what they were moved to share.
“What I found moving is the question of how the Spirit of God is calling us. We tend to be very cerebral and strategic. It is good to be discerning as we plan,” shared Fr Jojo Fung SJ, Coordinator for Jesuit Companions in Indigenous Ministry.
Part of the meeting was an Examen of the JCAP Apostolic Plan 2014 to 2019. Although many in the group had not yet been on board during the crafting of the plan and some had not known of it, they were very much grateful to former JCAP President Fr Mark Raper SJ for his leadership. Many also found that they had been implementing the plan even without knowing it. It was truly a surprise of the Spirit and a reminder that any plan is really a partaking in the Missio Dei, the Mission of God.
That the mission of the Society of Jesus is first of all God’s mission is reflected in Decree 1 of General Congregation 36, which identified discernment, collaboration and networking as offering important perspectives on the Society’s contemporary way of proceeding.
Given its significance, the Extended Consult devoted much time to how the conference can foster collaboration and networking, which as a practice is still new for many. It is an important task of the conference to accompany the networks in their discernment and planning to facilitate collaboration.
“What I learned over the years is that it takes an active person or, better still, an institution to act as a hub for the network,” shared Fr Benny Juliawan SJ, outgoing Secretary for Social Ministries.
During an exercise in discernment and planning in common for JCAP apostolic priorities in the next five years, the assembly was invited to reflect on the signs of the times within the Society, in Asia Pacific and the world. How is the Spirit energising them? What conversions are the Spirit inviting them to make?
Many of the priorities that emerged from the Spiritual Conversations mirrored the recommended universal apostolic preferences discerned by the conference Major Superiors during their recent assembly in Tokyo. These include accompanying vulnerable groups, including women, children and young people, reaching out to those on the peripheries and addressing the root causes of marginalisation, ecological conversion and sharing the richness of Ignatian Spirituality to the world.
Fr Robin Koning SJ, Convener of the Theological Cooperation Working Group, pointed out the need for a strong theological foundation and to shape leaders with a depth in spirituality. Many desired a more hospitable Church envisioned as a home for healing.
There were also discussions on how to engage the growing influence of China and the positive signs of reconciliation in Korea; the growing poverty in the developing world, but also the poverty of values in developed nations.
“I think this is the magis we are called to do. To change from a culture of death to a culture of life, and to identify the processes that can change the culture,” reflected Indonesian Provincial Fr Sunu Hardiyanta SJ.
Malaysia-Singapore Regional Superior Fr Christopher Soh SJ was struck by the image of Christ the King, whose feast we celebrated last Sunday.
“We talk about the rise and fall of empires and it made me think of Christ the King and another kind of Kingdom,” he shared. Fittingly, the Society is called to serve a different kind of Kingdom, one marked by humility and service, in which Christ is the King.
Photos by Harry Setianto Sunaryo SJ