Death of a Superior General: Fr Peter-Hans Kolvenbach SJ
Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach SJ who was Superior General of the Society of Jesus from 1983 to 2008, passed away on November 26 in Beirut, Lebanon. He was 87 years old.
Rebuilding Nepal from the rubble
Reconstruction efforts are gathering pace in Nepal more than a year after the 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit the country on April 25, 2015, causing massive destruction of infrastructure and killing more than 9,000 people. The Nepal Jesuit Social Institute (NJSI) has been actively involved in relief and rehabilitation work and is now concentrating its efforts on supporting the building and rebuilding of schools, hostels, houses and women’s shelters in different districts.
Rediscovered Jesuit journal sheds light on introduction of Western science into China
The personal journal of Jesuit priest and scientist Sabatino de Ursis (1575-1620), a successor of Matteo Ricci in the Ming court of China, was rediscovered recently in the royal library of Ajuda in Lisbon, Portugal.
The journal brings a new understanding of how Western science was introduced into China during the Ming dynasty, and of his treatise, “Hydromethods of the Great West”, which was published in Beijing in 1612 and sponsored by important Ming scholar-officials. The treatise includes a preface by Xu Guangqi, distinguished scientist and collaborator of Matteo Ricci.
Nepal earthquake a year later
Since the earthquake that devastated Nepal on April 25, 2015, the Nepal Jesuit Social Institute (NJSI) has been actively working in the 11 most affected districts.
With the Emergency Phase of work fully completed, the institute moved into rehabilitation activities and to date has erected semi-permanent structures for 15 schools. It has assisted 89 schools unreached by government assistance with student and office furniture, white boards, educational material and recreational material.
Caring for the environment at school
Educate Magis has released a video that showcases some of the work being done by Jesuit schools around the world in response to Pope Francis’ call for young people “to care for creation not only as responsible citizens, but also as followers of Christ”.
Click to pray
The Apostleship of Prayer has launched an app to encourage people throughout the world to pray every day for the challenges facing humanity and the mission of the Church, as expressed by the Pope in his monthly prayer intentions.
Advocating for migrants in the US as Pope visits Mexico-US border
During Pope Francis’ visit to Ciudad Juarez, a Mexican city on the border with the United States, thousands affiliated with Jesuit institutions across the United States echoed his call for a compassionate response toward migrants by holding masses, erecting “mock border walls”, and signing a letter to members of Congress.
Boston College, Creighton University, and Bellarmine College Prep in San Jose, California were among a number of schools, parishes, and other ministries that held masses in a display of solidarity with Pope Francis’ mass at Benito Juarez Stadium on February 17.
First Fe y Alegría Congress in Africa
In January, the first Fe y Alegría Congress in Africa was held with more than 40 participants from Chad, Madagascar, Kenya, Togo, Central African Republic, Guinea Conakry, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Zambia, as well as from the Conference of the Jesuits of Africa and Madagascar, the International Federation of Fe y Alegría, Jesuit Refugee Service, Entreculturas-Fe y Alegría Spain, Alboan, Porticus, and Misereor.
‘Lost’ painting of St Francis Xavier discovered in Spain
A painting thought to be of St Francis Xavier SJ – and believed to have been lost almost 250 years ago – has been rediscovered at the Royal Scots College, Salamanca in Spain.
Loyola University Chicago approves Magis fund for undocumented students
Loyola University Chicago and its Board of Trustees have approved the implementation of the Magis Scholarship Fund, a student-led initiative to support undocumented undergraduate students in the United States. The Board of Trustees finance committee voted unanimously earlier this month to approve the initiative, which will raise approximately USD 50,000 each academic year.