Mission Sunday 2010 at Arrupe International Residence –Honoring Arrupeans
who gave their lives for Others
Mission Sunday was given a special significance at the Arrupe International Residence this year. It was an occasion to remember the two former Arrupeans who gave their lives for others: Scholastics Richie Fernando (PHI) who was killed in Cambodia on 17 Oct 1996, and Father A.T. Thomas (HAZ) who was killed in India between 24 – 27 Oct 1997.
 |
| Regents with Fr Totet Banaynal (PHI) in the newly-built Church in Pailin. |
Every quarter, the regents of the Cambodia Mission gather to break bread together, share stories, and check up on each other. While the primary purpose of the meetings is peer support, a secondary objective is educational and formative: the meetings afford the regents a chance to visit priests and missionaries in the communities they serve.
Last September 2-5, all seven regents – Su-yun Park, Ki-Hyun Kim, Hyung-sik Jo (KOR); Tran Van Dien, Bahoc Pham (VIE); Arbind Beck (IDA) and Mark Lopez (PHI) accompanied by Fr Taejin Kim (KOR) – journeyed together to the hinterlands of Rattanakiri. This province is the least accessible area of Cambodia, lying in the northeastern border with Vietnam and Laos.
Sameeksha, the Jesuit Centre for Indian Spirituality, Kalady (Kerala Province), India, has been recognised by the Mahatma Gandhi State University as a Research Centre in Philosophy. Research students holding a Masters in Philosophy from any approved university can apply here for doing doctoral studies. Two Jesuits have been approved as guides, but the assistance of several competent Indian Jesuits can be expected.
After much activity in June as new members shuffled in, and old ones tried to find their usual rhythm, Arrupe International Residence finally found its footing in the month of July. Indeed, with a few exceptions, the manner of proceeding in the last two months has been ‘ordinary’. With the FIFA World Cup Tournament, which had for awhile arrested the attention of a sizeable portion of the community, ended, and school registrations completed, the community settled down for the semester in earnest.
We talk about creation and environment, in study we read about ecology as our Jesuit mission. We get to know about “ecology” but have no understanding with meaning necessary to connect to mission. For instance, we have lectures about keeping the environment green; in our mind we know it is important. In theory we know but cannot grasp its relevance – or our relevance – to broader society.
Our kind of understanding is superficial in that it remains as an idea. This Wonosobo experience to be with people on the land builds a new perspective of what ecology means as creation where we are present.
Last July 30, Fr João Felgueiras (POR) celebrated his 60th year as a priest. The East Timor Mission celebrated this event with a Eucharist at 5:30 p.m. in the ground-floor Salao in the Residencia Jesuitas in Taibesi, followed by a dinner.
Plínio Martins retraced steps in his own and East Timor’s history when he was ordained in Dili on St Ignatius Day, July 31.
Over a thousand people took part in the celebration of the ordination of Plínio Rosário Gusmão dos Reis Martins in the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Dili . Bishop Alberto da Silva of Dili was the presiding Bishop, assisted by Bishop Greg O’Kelly (ASL). Plínio’s mother, accompanied by her brother, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, joined the procession.
Last July 28 at 9 am, was the ordination of Indonesian Jesuit scholastics Bagus Aris Rudiyanto, Seno Hari Prakoso, Kristiono Puspo, Buddy Haryadi, Bambang Irawan and Sigit Prasadja by the most reverend Ignatius Suharyo, Archbishop of Jakarta, at St Anthony Church, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Ad maiorem dei gloriam!
Five Korean Jesuits were ordained as priests at Myung-dong Cathedral of Seoul Archdiocese on June 30. Frs Shin-jae Youh, Jin-hyon Lee and Jin-hyuk Park studied theology at Jesuit Theology Center (JTC) in Melbourne, Australia.
Fr Saichon Khanyulai (TAI) is returning to Bangkok on August 24 from tertianship. While waiting for is next assignment, he will be residing at Xavier Hall. Fr John Shea (NYK) will be moving to his new assignment at Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan, on August 23. In his email to the Region, John wrote, “Thanks for all the support and companionship these last five years.