The Education Colloquium of the Jesuit Education Commission for Asia Pacific was finally held in Fukuoka, Japan, from August 1 to 5. Originally scheduled last year, the colloquium was postponed due to the AH1-N1 virus scare.
Mr Murayama Hyōe took his first vows at Mass celebrated by Fr Provincial Shogo Sumita at Kamishakujii, Japan on March 21. The night's rainstorm gave way to a fine day as a sign to the new scholastic of the many blessings from God and from the 40 Jesuit joining him in the Mass.
Jesuit Refugee Service Cambodia reports that the International Convention on Cluster Munitions has now been ratified by 30 countries, which means that it will become binding international law on 1 September 2010. The director of JRS Cambodia, Sister Denise Coghlan, had been lobbying tirelessly governments as part of the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC). (Source: Headlines 2010/02 News from the Jesuit Social Apostolate)
Former Jesuit Refugee Services International Director Fr Mark Raper has argued that all states share a responsibility to vulnerable people who cannot live decently in their homelands – whether due to climate change, natural disaster or war.
During the Wednesday, 23 September Papal Audience, the New Japanese Catholic Encyclopedia was presented to the Pope. It consists of four volumes each 1,500 pages in length. The editorial work began in 1981 and has taken almost 30 years to complete. Fr Shunichi Takayanagi (JPN), editor writes, “Between 1940 and 1960 the Jesuits published a five volume Catholic Encyclopedia.
From Georgetown University’s Woodstock Theological Centre, here is a short excerpt of a speech by Fr Jesuit Aloysius Mowe (MAS) on “Muslims and Christians: Where do we stand?”. He discusses the view that there are fundamental similarities in both faiths, but “the fact is that, there are many issues that do divide us Christians and Muslims, there are causes for concern”.
During the time I was working with displaced persons in Japan we would come up against a number of unforeseen legal obstacles and long trials. Our success, such as it was, in drawing the attention of the National Diet and the mass media seemed inadequate. Supporters would get tired of confronting immigration violations “case by case” and would drop out. Why did I continue with this work despite my tiredness and frustration? Despondent, I prayed often to God, and miracles happened. One such miracle was obtaining refugee status for five Vietnamese brothers.
The major reason for the trip of Fr General to Japan from December 20 to January 2 was the celebration of the centennial of the Society’s return to the Land of the Rising Sun (1908-2008). The trip also offered Fr. Nicolás the opportunity to meet the Jesuits of the Province of Japan and to see many long-time friends. Fr. José M. de Vera, who accompanied Fr. General on his trip, gave some of his insights.
On November 24 the beatification of 188 17th century Japanese martyrs took place in Nagasaki in a solemn, public ceremony attended by over 30,000 people. The martyrs represented those Christians who, between 1603 and 1639, shed their blood for Christ and laid deep foundations for the Japanese Christian community.
The Jesuits, together with three other religious orders, have opened a language school in a poor district of Tokyo, where many foreign workers live. The aim is not only to teach Japanese but also to empower children and their parents, many of whom face discrimination in public spaces. Read the article by Fr Ando Isamu (JPN) here: http://www.kiwi-us.com/~selasj/jsc/english/bulletin/no146/iss146_1.html (Source: SJS Headlines, November 2008)