Sophia University, the Jesuit university in Japan, celebrated its 100th anniversary on November 1 with a memorial mass in the morning and a formal centenary ceremony in the afternoon. Some 4,200 people attended the ceremony held at the Tokyo International Forum, including Their Imperial Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan.
In his recent visit to the United States, Fr Adolfo Nicolás SJ, superior general of the Society of Jesus, met for the first time with all presidents and board of trustee chairs of the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the country. During this historic meeting at Loyola University Chicago on October 11, Fr Nicolás shared his thoughts on how the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola (founder of the Society of Jesus) can inspire the presidents’ and chairs’ leadership of their institutions today.
What is the face of the Apostleship of Prayer in Asia? This was the main question delegates at the 5th Apostleship of Prayer Asian Conference had to address as they gathered to discuss how to re-create the apostolate.
Chances are, when Fr Thomas W Worcester SJ is not teaching or speaking about religious history, he’s writing about it. Fr Worcester, a professor at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA, is editor of two best-sellers and currently at work on a comprehensive reference book The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of the Jesuits.
With a Pope whose language and behaviour so closely reflect his Jesuit identity, the Society of Jesus is enjoying a period of encouragement in its mission. Pope Francis models a discerning, compassionate, pastoral approach for the Church. Each day he surprises us, yet his initiatives make sense to many people, whether believers or not, whether Christians or not.
Jesuit journals around the world have published an exclusive interview with Pope Francis. The interview was conducted by Fr Antonio Spadaro SJ, editor in chief of La Civiltà Cattolica, the Italian Jesuit journal, over the course of three meetings held in August 2013 in Rome. His questions were consolidated from those sent by several major Jesuit journals including La Civiltà Cattolica, Thinking Faith and America.
Sogang University undergraduate Sol Jee Ahn was at MAGIS and World Youth Day 2013 with a group of 27 pilgrims from Korea. She shares with us how MAGIS helped her feel closer to God and loved as a child of God.
Pope Francis celebrated the Feast of St Ignatius on July 31 with around 300 Jesuits and close collaborators at the Gesù Church in Rome. In his homily, he spoke to three themes, referring repeatedly to the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius, a compilation of meditations, prayers, and contemplative practices to help people deepen their relationship with God.
The pope spoke of putting Christ at the centre of the Church, of allowing oneself to be conquered by Him to serve and of feeling the shame of our limitations in order to be humble before Him and before one another.
The Jesuit Post interviewed Father General Adolfo Nicolás SJ during MAGIS 2013 in Brazil. The interview has been divided into five video clips, focussed on Youth Ministry, New & Social Media, Silence, Vocations, and Pope Francis.
On the Youth Ministry
On New & Social Media
SALVADOR, Brazil (CNS) — Using the example of a big-hearted giraffe, the superior general of the Jesuits, Father Adolfo Nicolas, told 2,000 World Youth Day pilgrims: “Keep your eyes and your hearts open.”
The young people from around the world — mostly students from Jesuit universities — had gathered in Salvador on July 12 for a 10-day, pre-World Youth Day programme known as Magis, which means “the more” in Latin. The programme is designed for the young people to examine their lives to see how they can do more for Christ and for others.