In a letter issued on 24 March, the eve of the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, Fr General Arturo Sosa SJ has entrusted “the responsibility for the Pakistan Mission to the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP) with the JCAP President as the mission’s Major Superior for three years, ad experimentum, beginning 1 April”.
This decision comes after a period of discernment, which was initiated by the request of Fr Angelo Sujeewa Pathirana SJ, Sri Lankan Provincial, due to travel restrictions between Sri Lanka and Pakistan and the lack of personnel for deployment to Pakistan.
The JCAP major superiors and the Indonesian Province, which were involved in the discernment process, expressed their desire to accompany and assist the Pakistan Mission during their January-February 2023 Major Superiors Assembly. The Sri Lankan Province, with support from Fr Jerome Stanislaus D’Souza SJ, President of the Jesuit Conference of South Asia (JCSA), has been accompanying and assisting the Pakistan Mission since 1988. Prior to that, the Australian Province was the mother unit of the Pakistan Mission for six years.
The Pakistan Mission, despite the many challenges, has grown under the care of the Sri Lankan Province with support from JCSA. They have been promoting the educational ministry, Ignatian spirituality, interreligious dialogue with Islam and Buddhism, and religious formation of the local church.
“Pakistan is a mission where a small number of our Jesuit brethren labour. By the grace of God, our Jesuit presence, however minor, has produced apostolic fruits – assistance to the local church through religious formation programmes; provision of a venue, a safe space, for open dialogue among women and men of differing faith traditions; and the establishment of three schools, whose students are mostly children from poor families. These are initiatives vital to preserve, and even strengthen,” said Fr General Sosa.
He expressed confidence that with the “leadership and assistance of the other major superiors in Asia Pacific, the mission in Pakistan will be able to carry on with its good work, and receive adequate guidance, sustenance, and support”.
JCAP President Fr Tony Moreno SJ thanked Fr Pathirana, the Sri Lankan Province, and Fr D’Souza for accompanying and assisting the Pakistan Mission, and commended this new collaborative mission to the prayers of all.
“This decision marks a crucial moment in the life-mission of JCAP and the Pakistan Mission,” said Fr Moreno. “Despite facing its own challenges, JCAP is confident that this invitation will enable them to walk shoulder to shoulder with the Jesuits and companions of the Pakistan Mission.”