Pentecost and World Refugee Day
7 Jun 2014

Pentecost and World Refugee Day

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At Pentecost the believers celebrated that they were “no longer strangers and sojourners, but a dwelling place of the Spirit” (Eph 2:19-22).  With World Refugee Day just a couple of weeks away on June 20, I am reminded yet again that the experiences of refugees, who long to be “no longer strangers and sojourners”, and the celebration of Pentecost find a common thread in the life of Jesus and the message he gave to the Church.

On our mission and new initiatives
29 May 2014

On our mission and new initiatives

by | posted in: Migration, Reconciliation with Creation | 0

Happy Feast of the Ascension of our Lord!

In today’s Gospel from Matthew, our Lord sends his disciples to the ends of the earth with a mission of love and service. Within their lifetime those disciples, despite their simple backgrounds, had overcome all obstacles to tell their story and to share their dramatic message of conversion with peoples at the very edges of the known world. What courage and initiative they showed, strengthened by his parting words – “know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time”.

The way to new life
24 Apr 2014

The way to new life

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“I have risen, and I am with you still, alleluia. … Too wonderful for me, this knowledge, alleluia, alleluia.” (Easter entrance antiphon).

 The Holy Week and Easter ceremonies help us to remember. In the Passover meal Jesus celebrated the memory of Israel’s delivery.  During Holy Week we were invited to remember Jesus’ passion for humanity and for all creation. At Easter we now celebrate his victory over death.  “When you do this, remember me.”

God is with us
20 Dec 2013

God is with us

by | posted in: JCAP News | 0

As I prepared to write this Christmas greeting, our fifth floor of the East Asian Pastoral Institute where I live in Manila began to rock and sway.  The tremor lasted seconds, but it was enough to remind me that the Philippines not only receives 10 to 20 tropical storms a year, but also lies on the “Ring of Fire”, the Pacific Ocean’s volcano and earthquake belt.  This year, the Filipino people have once again experienced more than their share of earthquakes and typhoons.

Dialogue, discernment, frontier
24 Sep 2013

Dialogue, discernment, frontier

by | posted in: JCAP News | 0

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.

The fruit of love is service
24 Aug 2013

The fruit of love is service

by | posted in: Social Justice, Spirituality | 0

Since several days Manila is gripped by Typhoon Maring (Trami), resulting in widespread displacement and hardship.  The help given by the Jesuit-led Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan to many families made homeless by flooding reminds me of a story, told reputedly by the Hindu philosopher Radhakrishnan. 

Build bridges, not walls
25 Jul 2013

Build bridges, not walls

by | posted in: Interreligious Dialogue, Spirituality | 0

July 31 is the feast of St Ignatius Loyola, who died in 1556.  Ignatius is known as the founder of the Society of Jesus but, as his feast day approaches, I am reminded that he founded the Society in concert with two others – Francis Xavier, who we in this Conference hold especially dear for he crossed the known world to Japan and reached the shores of China, and Peter Faber (Pierre Favre).  The three – Ignatius, Francis and Peter – shared a room during their studies at the University of Paris, and co-founded the Society of Jesus.

By deeds and words
27 Mar 2013

By deeds and words

by | posted in: Social Justice | 0

From his very first words as Bishop of Rome, our new Pope Francis revealed a gracious respect for the religious belief, freedom of conscience and dignity of each person – values and behaviour so essential for Christians in Asia Pacific.  His first blessing was a simple, modest acknowledgement of the conscience of each person:  “Since many of you are not members of the Catholic Church, and others are not believers, I cordially give this blessing silently, to each of you, respecting the conscience of each, but in the knowledge that each of you is a child of God.