General Congregation 36 (GC 36) dominated Jesuit life during 2016. The theme, “Row into the deep”, was derived from a message of Pope Francis to the Society of Jesus in 2014, echoing Jesus’ call to his disciples to “put out into the deep”. In the Congregation logo, the IHS represents the Society’s boat in the Church; the waves are the troubled seas of our times into which Jesuits are invited to row with faith.
|
4 FEBRUARY Opening of Instituto São João de Brito, the Jesuit teacher education institute in Timor-Leste 
New President named for the Jesuit Conference of Asia PacificFr General Arturo Sosa has appointed Fr Antonio F Moreno to succeed Fr Mark Raper as the next President of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific. Fr Moreno, who is currently Provincial of the Philippine Jesuit Province, will assume office within the next six months. 
Fr Riyo Mursanto SJ to be Rector of Arrupe International ResidenceFr General Arturo Sosa has appointed Indonesian Jesuit Fr Riyo Mursanto as Rector of Arrupe International Residence in the Philippines. Fr Riyo takes over from Filipino Jesuit Fr Renato Repole who has been Rector since February 2011. Fr Riyo is no stranger to Arrupe Residence where he lived for three years when he was Socius to Fr Adolfo Nicolás, who was then President of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific. He was also responsible for the Juniorate programme during that time. 
Charting a new course for the migration networkThe word “discernment” has become all the rage within Jesuit circles following the 36th General Congregation. Fr General Arturo Sosa has even appointed a special counsellor to oversee the process of discernment and apostolic planning in the Society. So it was fitting that the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific’s (JCAP) migration network examined the journey so far and charted a new course at its fourth annual meeting held in Tokyo from March 23 to 26. A new plan for the future was called for. 
Passing over, the Easter journeyFrom Good Friday to Easter: what contrasts! From darkness to light, death to life, loss to discovery, despair to hope, defeat to victory, fasting to feasting. At Easter we “pass over”; we let go of the old and strive to embrace the new. During Lent we tried to become free from self-centredness and false hopes. 
Asia Pacific Jesuits in the time of Laudato si’Environmental research and ecological action across the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP) takes many forms, as Jesuit works are only beginning to engage these concerns and still have much to learn. Jesuits and their collaborators are moving towards greater environmental awareness and have recognised the urgent need to communicate and work with others strategically and more broadly for the sake of greater ecological accountability and sustainability. 
Exploring new ways of promoting the Jesuit vocationVocation promoters across the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP) continue to discuss inventive ways of encouraging young men to inquire about vocations in the Society of Jesus, and discern whether they have a vocation as a Jesuit priest or brother. This year’s meeting focussed on using new communications technology in vocation promotion. 
Fr Nicolás celebrates 50 years as a priestFr Adolfo Nicolás SJ marked his golden jubilee as a priest on March 17 in a manner in keeping with his characteristic humility. The simple celebration comprised Mass in the Oratory of the Loyola House of Studies concelebrated by Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific President Fr Mark Raper SJ and Arrupe International Residence Fr Renato Repole SJ and dinner in the AIR refectory. “It is a joy for us to celebrate you Nico. I hope you enjoy it too, even if you do not like to be the centre of attention,” said Fr Raper as he began his homily. 
A gift of joy from GodGratitude and joy for the love of God recently inspired two young Jesuits to write a song. Deacon Soo Young Theodore Park SJ from Korea and Scholastic Jun-G Bargayo SJ from the Philippines say the song Kutafuta Mungu (“Finding God” in Swahili) was a gift for them as 2017 began. The inspiration to compose the song came the night after Soo Young’s diaconate ordination. |