Forming Myanmar Jesuits for the priesthood
24 Sep 2013

Forming Myanmar Jesuits for the priesthood

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William Paul knows well the challenges that come with preparing Myanmar men for the priesthood: the young man from Western Bago Division was just 21 when joined the Jesuits in 2005, and saw first hand the impact of the country’s authoritarian military dictatorship on his fellow novices.

“Here we have a fear, because of living under the military, a kind of fear to open up oneself to the other person, especially those who have authority,” he says.

Thirteen Jesuits ordained deacon in Manila
18 Sep 2013

Thirteen Jesuits ordained deacon in Manila

by | posted in: Formation, International Works | 0

“Carry your cross!” This was the challenge of Bishop Honesto Ongtioco to the 13 Jesuit deacons he ordained on September 14, 2013. The Jesuit ordinands included nine from the Philippine Province – Manases L Amanence SJ, Guillrey Anthony M Andal, SJ, Antonio M Basilio SJ, Eric Anthony S Escandor, SJ, Erik John J Gerilla SJ, Jose Emmanuel A Liwanag SJ, Ruben B Orbeta Jr SJ, Neupito J Saicon SJ, and Irmo Fracis A Valeza SJ.

First formators’ training held
23 Aug 2013

First formators’ training held

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The Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific recently held its first Formation for Jesuit Formators seminar.  Held from August 5 to 16 in the Philippines, the seminar is the first of three modules that will be conducted in three consecutive years. The 22 formators who participated are current and future formation directors and staff of novitiates, scholasticates and seminaries in the Conference. They hail from nine provinces and regions – Indonesia, Korea, China, Australia, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, Malaysia-Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

Caring for Burmese refugees in Mae Sot
15 Aug 2013

Caring for Burmese refugees in Mae Sot

by | posted in: Migration, Social Justice | 0

It was his experience as an ethnic minority in Thailand that prompted JRS Asia Pacific staff member Sanan to devote his life to helping Burmese refugees and migrants who had fled their homeland and come to settle across the border in the town of Mae Sot. As a member of the Thai-Karen group, Sanan knows what it is like to be marginalised: the equal rights he shares with his compatriots have not always been fully respected in practice, he says.

Collaboration is our salvation
18 Jul 2013

Collaboration is our salvation

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

In late June, Singapore suffered from the worst ever haze in its history. The haze came from forest fires in Sumatra, across the Malacca Strait. A row broke out between some government officials in Singapore and Indonesia.

A clear and obvious blessing
26 May 2013

A clear and obvious blessing

by | posted in: Formation, Province News | 0

It was the moment in which the Society of Jesus finally came to life in Myanmar: the ordination of the country’s first ever Jesuit priest, Fr Wilbert Mireh SJ. Watching on among the throngs of faithful who packed Christ the King Cathedral in Loikaw, in Kayah State in the country’s east on May 1, Myanmar scholastic William-Paul gave quiet thanks for an event whose implications would reverberate far beyond the people who had gathered here to witness it.

Receiving the spirit of peace
25 May 2013

Receiving the spirit of peace

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Days after the ordination of Myanmar’s first Jesuit priest, three young men took their first vows in Taunggyi, reflecting the Jesuit revival that began when the Society returned to the country in 1998.

Novices John Bosco Oo, Saw John Paul Thurein and Peter Mwe Aung Seng were surrounded by their families as they took their vows at the Holy Infant Jesus parish in the grounds of Payaphyu, an orphanage and home for the handicapped in Taunggyi in Shan State on May 5. The Jesuit novitiate is located in the same compound.  

Challenging times for the Myanmar Mission
27 Mar 2013

Challenging times for the Myanmar Mission

by | posted in: Social Justice | 0

Many may have thought the battle won when Aung San Suu Kyi was free to appear in public, when hundreds of political prisoners were released, when dissidents were free to return home from exile abroad, when censorship and sanctions were lifted, when elections were held, and as parliament sits to draft a new constitution.  In reality the work of rebuilding Myanmar is just beginning.