The Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities in East Asia and Oceania (AJCU-EAO) held its 2008 General Assembly last August 26-28 at the Grand Cikarang Hotel, Jababeka Raya, Cikarang Industrial Estate in Indonesia. Members from the Philippines, Korea, Japan and, of course, the host schools from Indonesia came together for the annual meeting.
The school had only a few boys (and no girls) when it started in 1952 at an old bombarded Japanese Communication Centre in Chuuk State; but for its 2007-2008 academic year, it had 142 girls and boys, among the best students of Micronesia. Under the remarkable leadership of the school’s Director, Fr Arthur Leger, the school community had long prepared for and looked forward to important events which took place in and around the school’s new chapel Maria della Strada.
The National Secretaries of education of EAO met in Taisei Gakuen, Fukuoka from May 30 until June 2, hosted by Fr Lee Sung-il, the Chairman of the Committee for High School Apostolate of Japanese Province. The group consisted of Fr Stephen Chow (CHN), Fr Gerry Healy (ASL), Fr Heru Hendarto (IDO), Fr.
On May 1, Fr Dan Ross (CHN) wrote: “For several years I have been working with my present and former students on various cross cultural projects in Southeast and East Asia. Some of these have been in the Philippines and China, but more have been in Cambodia. The efforts have been under the overall idea of finding ways to improve undergraduate university education.
Officers of the international programs of the different schools under the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) umbrella met on December 7 at the Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines. They shared their respective international programs and discussed possible partnerships such as student and faculty exchange. This activity was one of the results of the AJCU meeting held last August 21-22, 2007.
On November 7, there was a consultation on the campus ministry apostolate, in view of integrating this apostolate under the Secretariat for Higher Education (AJCU-EAO). It was chaired by Fr Joel Tabora and was attended by two Jesuits from Thailand, Frs Maharsono Probho and Vinai Boonlue, together with Jesuits and lay partners from the High School and the Loyola Campus Ministry Office of Ateneo de Manila University and from Ateneo de Naga University.
Fr Louis Gendron, in his province letter dated October 24, wrote, “Today I was in Beijing for a meeting of the Board of Directors of The Beijing Center, and I am transiting in Macau on my way to Taipei, where we have a meeting of the Board of Trustees of Fu Jen University. I bring with me two new books published by Fr Ron Anton and his collaborators at the Historical Archives of Beijing.
The Colloquium of Jesuit School Board Members was held in Cebu, Philippines on August 3 – 6. There were 47 participants coming from Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Philippines, Micronesia, Indonesia, East Timor, Australia and Indonesia. More than half of them are lay.
On July 31, the Adhi Luhur Jesuit High School at Nabire (Papua) in cultural way celebrated Saint Ignatius day with a blessing of the Le Cocq d’Armandville chapel in its campus.
Fr Provincial Priyono Marwan presided the Eucharist in the beautiful 300-seat chapel. Fr Le Cocq d’Armandville SJ died in Papua in 1896 (www.usd.ac.id/adhiluhur/Kolese.html).