Jesuits in Korea and Japan confront ethnic reconciliation
27 Sep 2016

Jesuits in Korea and Japan confront ethnic reconciliation

by | posted in: Migration, Province News, Social Justice | 0

August is a symbolic month dedicated to peace movements in Japan. Seventy-one years have passed since the defeat of Japan in the Second World War, but the dropping of the first two nuclear bombs on Hiroshima (August 6, 1945) and Nagasaki (August 9, 1945) are still vividly remembered.

A group of 34 Jesuits, half of them from Korea and the rest from Japan gathered in Shimonoseki, in the west of Japan from August 23 to 26 to heal wounds occasioned by the worst historical relationship between both countries and to search for closer cooperation.

A whole story of gratitude, renewal and hope
26 Sep 2016

A whole story of gratitude, renewal and hope

by | posted in: Education, Formation, Province News | 0

“There are a lot of stories we can tell about these two institutions, but they are a whole story of gratitude, renewal and hope”.  

The two institutions are Loyola House of Studies (LHS) and the Loyola School of Theology (LST) which this month concluded their yearlong golden jubilee celebration.  At the closing dinner on September 11, Fr Antonio Moreno SJ, Philippine Jesuit Provincial and Loyola School of Theology Vice-Chancellor, described the story of LHS and LST as a tale of appreciation and optimism.

Ateneo de Davao University underscores commitment to the environment
26 Sep 2016

Ateneo de Davao University underscores commitment to the environment

by | posted in: Education, Province News, Reconciliation with Creation, Social Justice | 0

The southern Philippine island of Mindanao is home to an abundance of natural resources, chief among them are forests and aquatic resources that sustain and nourish ecosystems. But big agricultural developments and large-scale mining activities have resulted in land dispossession of indigenous communities, violence and environmental degradation.

An urgent call to stop the use of cluster munitions
2 Sep 2016

An urgent call to stop the use of cluster munitions

by | posted in: Province News, Social Justice | 0

“It is outrageous that new cluster munitions are still killing people in Syria and Yemen in 2016 and causing so many new refugees,” said Sr Denise Coghlan RSM, Director of Jesuit Refugee Service Cambodia.

The Cluster Munitions Monitor for 2016 released on September 1 documented this use and also the progress being made in stockpile destruction, clearance and assistance to enhance the quality of life of the survivors.

Eight Jesuits ordained priests in Vietnam
31 Aug 2016

Eight Jesuits ordained priests in Vietnam

by | posted in: Formation, Province News | 0

The Vietnam Jesuit Province has eight new Vietnamese priests.  The new Jesuit priests, who were ordained on August 25 at the Saint Joseph Jesuit Scholasticate in Thu Duc, Ho Chi Minh City, are Fr Anthony Pham Ba Hoc, Fr Dominic Nguyen Quoc Kinh, Fr Joseph Nguyen Tuan Phuc, Fr Thaddeus Nguyen Van Yen, Fr Francis Xavier Nguyen Thanh Vu, Fr Anthony Tran Thanh Tan, Fr Vincent Nguyen Minh Phuc and Fr Peter Nguyen Van Tang.

Giving up plastic straws in response to Laudato si’
23 Aug 2016

Giving up plastic straws in response to Laudato si’

by | posted in: Province News, Reconciliation with Creation, Social Justice | 0

When the Jesuits in Cambodia gathered for the usual days of prayer, discussions and celebrations in honour of St Ignatius this year, one interesting outcome was the decision to practise a unified, symbolic action to strengthen the Jesuit witness of working for ecological conversion. Such would be a communal response to the Holy Father’s invitation towards care for our common home in Laudato si’.  So, during the meeting held from July 27 to 29, they decided that this symbolic action would take the form of giving up the use of plastic straws.

A new Jesuit priest ordained in Timor-Leste
22 Aug 2016

A new Jesuit priest ordained in Timor-Leste

by | posted in: Formation, Province News | 0

July 30 was a day for rejoicing for the Jesuits of the Jesuit Independent Region of Timor-Leste, and not just because of the Feast of St Ignatius the next day.  That Sunday was the ordination to the priesthood of Sidelizio (Side) Ornai Pereira SJ, and every Jesuit in the country travelled to his hometown of Baucau to celebrate the first Timorese Jesuit ordination to the priesthood since 2010.  Jesuits from other parts of Asia Pacific also travelled to Timor-Leste for the ordination.