Reflecting on governance arrangements
18 Aug 2012

Reflecting on governance arrangements

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

Typhoon Vicente reached Hurricane Signal 10 overhead as the half yearly Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP) Major Superiors’ assembly continued calmly indoors in Macau’s Colégio Mateus Ricci in the last week of July.  From the meeting room window, the bright umbrellas of some of Macau’s annual 30 million visitors could be seen at the Ruins of St Paul, a reminder of the 500-year Jesuit history integral to the identity of the former Portuguese colony that is now a Special Administrative Region of China.

Strengthening the migrant ministry network
18 Aug 2012

Strengthening the migrant ministry network

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

Jesuits and collaborators working with migrants and refugees in Asia Pacific gathered in Manila recently to share insights and ideas for co-operation among the migrant ministries within the Conference.

The two-day meeting organised by the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific was held on June 30 and July 1, in conjunction with a migration conference, “Migration, Religious Experience and Mission with Migrants in Asia”, organised by the Loyola School of Theology and the Scalabrini Migration Center. 

The suffering of the Church in Cambodia
18 Aug 2012

The suffering of the Church in Cambodia

by | posted in: Migration, Social Justice | 0

In a recent interview, Fr Enrique (Kike) Figaredo Alvargonzález SJ, Apostolic Prefect of Battambang, spoke of the suffering of the Church in Cambodia under the persecution of the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s.

“It is a martyr Church,” said Fr Figaredo. “The Church in Cambodia was completely levelled. All our leaders… bishops, priests, nuns, many catechists, were killed. Those who weren’t killed died of hunger or disease, and the community remained in a very bad state.”

The suffering did not end after the end of the regime.

Timor Leste immersion
18 Aug 2012

Timor Leste immersion

by | posted in: Education, Social Justice | 0

Students and teachers from Jesuit and Partner Schools across Australia took part in a Timor Leste Immersion over the school holidays in July.  A group of 16 students from eight schools, with three teachers, participated in the programme. Stella Korlaki, a teacher at Xavier Catholic College in Hervey Bay, describes their experience.

We arrived in Darwin in two different groups. Little did we know that we would develop close and supportive friendships through our shared encounters in East Timor.

Breaking ground
17 Jul 2012

Breaking ground

by | posted in: Education, Social Justice | 0

The Jesuits in Timor Leste marked a major milestone on July 14 when they broke ground for the educational institute they are building in Kasait, 18 km west of Dili.

Construction of phase 1 of Instituto de Educação Jesuíta is scheduled to begin at the end of July.  The first phase consists of what is needed for the secondary school unit of the institute to open in time for the new school year in January 2013 – the road and entrance, some classrooms and other teaching facilities, and an administration block.

Cambodia election surprise
17 Jul 2012

Cambodia election surprise

by | posted in: Social Justice | 0

The one surprising feature of the recent municipal elections in Cambodia was the modest success of the Human Rights Party.  The party had 800 councillors elected and won control of 18 communes among a total of 14,549 councillors and 1,633 communes.  The Human Rights Party is small and has no sophisticated political organization or public relations policy.  Few political commentators predicted such an outcome for this tiny party.  The massive success of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party with 8,283 councillors and 1,592 communes was predictable.  The Sam Rainsy part

Where the Church can serve in Myanmar
17 Jul 2012

Where the Church can serve in Myanmar

by | posted in: Education, Interreligious Dialogue, Migration, Social Justice | 0

Myanmar is at a crossroads; an exciting point in its history as a nation. One of the poorest, most ethnically diverse and conflict-prone societies in Southeast Asia, Myanmar is now emerging from decades of isolation. Changes are afoot, as the release, election to parliament and recent travel abroad of Aung San Suu Kyi demonstrate.  A parliament is in place; interim elections passed without major offences. Many political prisoners have been released.  The demands to halt construction of the Irrawaddy Dam project appear to have been heeded.