Pope appoints Jesuit to the post of Promoter of Justice
24 Sep 2014

Pope appoints Jesuit to the post of Promoter of Justice

by | posted in: Beyond JCAP | 0

Pope Francis has appointed Fr Robert J Geisinger SJ Promoter of Justice for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In this role, Fr Geisinger will serve as the Vatican’s chief prosecutor and is charged with investigating canon-law offences that are regarded as being the most serious, including crimes against the sanctity of the Eucharist, violations of the seal of confession and allegations of the abuse of minors by clergy.

Fr Geisinger takes over from Fr Robert W Oliver, who has been appointed Secretary to the Vatican Commission for the Safeguarding of Minors. 

Pope receives Australian gift for anniversary of Restoration
28 Aug 2014

Pope receives Australian gift for anniversary of Restoration

by | posted in: Beyond JCAP, Province News | 0

Australian Provincial Fr Brian McCoy SJ and former Provincial Fr Steve Curtin SJ presented Pope Francis with a special gift of Sevenhill wine at a celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Restoration of the Society.  Fr McCoy and Fr Curtin were in Rome for the Tertian Directors Meeting, which coincided with the anniversary celebration on August 7.  They were joined by another Australian Jesuit, Fr Minh-Uoc Pham.

Father General Adolfo Nicolás announces intent to resign in 2016
27 May 2014

Father General Adolfo Nicolás announces intent to resign in 2016

by | posted in: JCAP News | 0

Father Adolfo Nicolás SJ, who has been Superior General of the Jesuits (the Society of Jesus) since 2008, has announced his intention to resign. Having recently reached the age of 78, Fr Nicolás says he has received the approval of his advisers and has informed Pope Francis that he intends to convoke a General Congregation for the latter part of 2016, during which he will formally submit his resignation and his successor will be elected.

Fr Lombardi on refugees: Pope Francis shows us the way
24 Apr 2014

Fr Lombardi on refugees: Pope Francis shows us the way

by | posted in: Migration | 0

Amongst those present for the publication of the 2014 Centro Astalli Annual report in Rome, was the Director of the Vatican Press Office, Fr Federico Lombardi SJ.

The event took place as yet another rescue effort by the Italian Navy in the Mediterranean lent assistance to an overcrowded boat in difficulty carrying some 200 people, many of whom women and children. Amongst them, at least one person has reportedly died.

St Anchieta – a new Jesuit saint to inspire the Society
24 Apr 2014

St Anchieta – a new Jesuit saint to inspire the Society

by | posted in: Beyond JCAP | 0

Spanish Jesuit missionary Blessed José de Anchieta was declared a saint by Pope Francis on April 3. His canonisation was celebrated with joy in churches in Brazil, where he is known as the Apostle of Brazil. 

The new St Anchieta was a highly influential figure in Brazil’s history and one of the founders of the cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.  In a Mass to celebrate St Anchieta, Cardinal Orani Tempesta, Metropolitan Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, said it was “impossible to write about the history of Brazil without mentioning the presence of Jose de Anchieta”.

Provincials to meet in Indonesia in 2015
28 Mar 2014

Provincials to meet in Indonesia in 2015

by | posted in: Interreligious Dialogue | 0

Fr General Adolfo Nicolás has called for a gathering of Provincials from around the world.  The meeting will be held from January 18 to 25, 2015 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, which is the world’s most populous Islamic country.  The location provides a “unique opportunity to become aware of the challenges that interfaith dialogue presents to the Society in its service to the whole Church and to mankind,” said Fr Nicolás.  

Fr General on mission in Asia
27 Mar 2014

Fr General on mission in Asia

by | posted in: Education | 0

Fr General Adolfo Nicolás delivered the opening address at a recent Pontifical Gregorian University event held to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Jesuit-run Sophia University in Tokyo.  A former student of Sophia in the 1960s and a former provincial of the Japanese Province, Fr Nicolás spoke on Sophia’s contribution to the mission of the Catholic Church in Asia.

Fr Nicolás urged Japanese Catholics to promote religious sensitivity in their country and not to lose hope because they represent a small minority of the country’s population.

With Pope Francis for St Peter Faber
31 Jan 2014

With Pope Francis for St Peter Faber

by | posted in: Spirituality | 0

Pope Francis celebrated Mass with his fellow Jesuits on January 3, in the mother church of the Society of Jesus, the church of the Gesù, in Rome.  The Mass marked the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus and gave thanks for the enrollment of the first Jesuit to be ordained a priest, Fr Peter Faber SJ, in the list of the saints.  About 350 Jesuits were present.

In his homily, Pope Francis spoke of the particular way in which the Jesuit Order is marked – and desires to be signed – by the name of Jesus: “To march,” he said, “beneath the standard of His Cross”.