The pandemic has cancelled many of our plans. This has been difficult for the Magis youth since many of our activities centre around gathering together for our formation programmes. Nonetheless, we are also encouraged to find other ways we can strengthen each other. On two occasions, Magis Asia Pacific held online Magis Circle sessions, first on 31 July, the feast day of St Ignatius Loyola, initiated by Magis Philippines, and then on 9 August in collaboration with Sophia University Campus Ministry in Tokyo.
Young people from the Philippines, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Congo, Cambodia, and Indonesia connected with one other through the Magis Circle. In our diversity we were brought together by our common experience of the pandemic and our practice of Ignatian spirituality. We shared how our lives have changed and reflected on how Ignatian spirituality helps us to find meaning in life and deepen our relationship with God.
In every meeting, a Jesuit priest accompanied and guided us in our study of Ignatian spirituality. At our first meeting, Fr Hyun Jun Lee SJ from Korea invited us to develop a sense of compassion for the many people who are suffering. He also invited us to live in hope and to see the current crisis as an opportunity to better ourselves. “This pandemic is a chance for us to transform our lives. We have a lot of chance to reflect and evaluate ourselves,” said Fr Hyun Jun.
Fr Simon Tama SJ from Cambodia who joined us during our second session asked us to consider this time of social distancing, quarantine, and isolation as a period of long retreat. “The pandemic is like taking a long retreat,” he said. “We have plenty of time to improve our relationship with our families and communities. We have more time to reflect and build our prayer life. It is precisely at moments like these that we have a better awareness of the environment around us.”
The Magis Circle proved to be valuable in lifting our spirits. Kevin Chun Kit Lai from Hong Kong shared that the pandemic and the political situation in Hong Kong have not been easy for him, but Ignatian spirituality has helped him to feel God’s presence amidst the difficulty. “Ignatian spirituality helps me to make a reflection and gives me hope in this difficult situation,” he said.
Sanita Ayu from Indonesia was also very grateful for the gift of Ignatian spirituality. “During the pandemic I felt lonely, but through Ignatian contemplation I felt how God continues to love me,” she shared. Malaysian Leah Basilika had the same experience. “In the midst of the pandemic, I actually felt God’s presence through the people around me. The new thing I’m most grateful for is this online ministry that helps me to stay close to God,” shared Leah.
The multitude of webinars and online events that have replaced in person gatherings became an opportunity for Dabin Jung from Korea to put Ignatian discernment into practice. “There are so many offers of webinars and online meetings. Ignatian discernment helps me to know my priorities. Is it necessary or unnecessary? So I don’t fall into superficiality,” she related. Clang Matute from the Philippines affirmed how the Ignatian principle of tantum quantum can be very helpful. “We must understand the spirit of tantum quantum to help us discern what’s essential and what’s non-essential in our lives,” said Clang.
All of us in the Magis Circle felt we were called to be closer to God during this pandemic. Japanese Haruka Matsushima said the practice of examen conscientiae helped her to be more aware of every grace, choice, vulnerability, and desire for further self-improvement. “Examen conscientiae helps me to be closer to God and to improve myself during this time,” said Haruka.
Indeed Ignatian spirituality has been a grace for all of us. We are grateful to be able to find God in all things. If we are unable to make a reflection, we are unable to find God’s graces behind this situation. Through reflection, the experience of a pandemic becomes like an experience of a long retreat, enabling us to see the light in the midst of the darkness and the struggles. This pandemic, we are called to be more, to be magis.
Isaac Jacques Cavin SJ is an Indonesian scholastic studying philosophy in Jakarta. He served as facilitator of the Magis community in Jakarta.