We continue the series of reflections by Jesuit formands on the six interrelated dynamics described in “A Profile of a Formed Jesuit for Asia Pacific” as having the potential to form a Jesuit as a contemplative in action. Fr Jody Magtoto SJ of the Philippine Province wrote this reflection on the dynamic of universal perspective shortly before he was ordained on April 14.
A Theological Cooperation Working Group has been formed to review Jesuit theological formation in Asia Pacific and develop realistic ideas to upgrade the quality of theology taught to scholastics in this part of the world.
The group of 12 Jesuits actively involved in theological formation met with JCAP President Fr Mark Raper SJ from April 17 to 19, and will henceforth meet once a year. It was agreed that members are to be specifically delegated by their major superior and are expected to be deans of theological schools empowered to take and implement decisions.
Since 2009, Myanmar scholastics have been sent to Indonesia for their formation. The first group of Myanmarese scholastics arrived in the country in May 2009. The six – Cyril Nay Myo Htet, Lawrence Khu, Joseph Zaw Goan, Paul Tu Ja, Marcus Min Htun, Pius Than Naing Lin – are in the Philosophy stage of formation, in the third year of a four-year Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy course at the Driyarkara Higher School of Philosophy in Jakarta.
With this article, we begin a series of reflections by Jesuit formands based on the various aspects of “A Profile of a Formed Jesuit for Asia Pacific”, a detailed document on formation for Jesuits for Asia Pacific, which was released by the Conference in November 2011. The document details six interrelated dynamics – interiority, psychosexual and affective integration, conversation, critical thinking, universal perspective and discerned action – that the Jesuit in formation fi
Scholastic Sidelizio Pereira SJ shares with us a reflection on his regency spent in his home country of Timor Leste. Side did his regency in the Colégio de Saõ José, the secondary school set up and managed by the Jesuits for the diocese of Dili for 18 years. Although the school was transferred back to the diocese in December 2011, Side’s reflection on what is unique about Jesuit education is significant for Timor Leste as the Society intends to build an educational institution in the country for secondary level as well as the training of teachers.
Much more than words, a picture can tell the stories of dozens of people with their own unique cultural and historical identities, and even the call to follow Christ radically, especially if the picture is the community photograph of Arrupe International Residence 2011-2012.
Fr Matthias Joon-ho Chae SJ died suddenly, aged 57, on April 1 in his hometown, Daegu, in Korea. Fr Matthias oversaw the rapid expansion of the Society in Korea during the last 20 years. On completing his PhD in counseling in the USA, he was appointed Formation Delegate for the Korean Region. He was later Superior of the Korean Region and then the first Provincial of the Korean Province in 2005. Since 2009, Fr Matthias served as the first Formation Delegate for the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific.
Following the launch of A Profile of a Formed Jesuit in late 2011, Jesuit Houses, especially houses of formation, have been studying how they can incorporate it into their programmes. Arrupe International Residence (AIR) is one of these.
The 10 tertians in the Asia Pacific Tertianship completed their six-month tertianship in early March. One of them, Fr John Sullivan SJ, contributed this reflection on the experience.