Where the Church can serve in Myanmar
17 Jul 2012

Where the Church can serve in Myanmar

by | posted in: Education, Interreligious Dialogue, Migration, Social Justice | 0

Myanmar is at a crossroads; an exciting point in its history as a nation. One of the poorest, most ethnically diverse and conflict-prone societies in Southeast Asia, Myanmar is now emerging from decades of isolation. Changes are afoot, as the release, election to parliament and recent travel abroad of Aung San Suu Kyi demonstrate.  A parliament is in place; interim elections passed without major offences. Many political prisoners have been released.  The demands to halt construction of the Irrawaddy Dam project appear to have been heeded. 

JCAP releases report for 2012
26 Jun 2012

JCAP releases report for 2012

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

The Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific has produced a modest 16-page annual report, simply titled “Jesuits in Asia Pacific 2012”. 

Exploring and experiencing Buddhism
23 Jun 2012

Exploring and experiencing Buddhism

by | posted in: Interreligious Dialogue | 0

Sixteen Jesuits participated in the East Asian Theological Encounter Programme (EATEP) held at the Seven Fountains Spirituality Centre in Chiangmai, Thailand from April 16 to May 13, 2012.  A programme of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific, EATEP provides transformational opportunities for Jesuits to deepen their dialogue with people of different faiths and to enrich their perspectives on theology in Asia.  

Education initiatives, opportunities and challenges
23 Jun 2012

Education initiatives, opportunities and challenges

by | posted in: Education | 0

Education continues to be a priority for Jesuits in Asia Pacific, as the recent JCAP meeting of Province delegates for pre-secondary and secondary education revealed.  

Several new initiatives in education are underway or proposed within the Conference.

You are not forgotten
23 Jun 2012

You are not forgotten

by | posted in: Social Justice | 0

“You are not forgotten,” said Aung San Suu Kyi.  “Pass this message to those behind you and on to others.” Not permitted a microphone, the Burmese pro-democracy leader called out to the crowd of refugees and migrants at the border refugee encampment of Mae La in May on her first visit abroad in 24 years.  Her clear message of hope quickly reached the hundreds of thousands of Myanmar citizens, who had waited decades in squalid jungle camps along the length of the 1,300 km Thai-Myanmar border.

Changing to best serve the universal mission
23 May 2012

Changing to best serve the universal mission

by | | 0

The Society is now at a new stage brought about by a couple of converging factors – the demographic realities and how we can best serve the universal mission today.

Our numbers have been in decline for the last 40 years – from over 30,000 in the 1960s to fewer than 18,000 today.  The steep declines in Europe and North America and consistent decline in Latin America have not been offset by the significant increase in South Asia and a small rise in Africa.  

Myanmar scholastics in Indonesia
23 Apr 2012

Myanmar scholastics in Indonesia

by | | 0

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.

Promoting reconciliation with creation
16 Jan 2012

Promoting reconciliation with creation

by | posted in: Reconciliation with Creation | 0

How do we promote reconciliation with creation to our fellow Jesuits in Asia Pacific? With imaginative and powerful images as the members of the Scholastics and Brothers Circle showed in the innovative campaign materials they developed during a workshop on Effective Communications held from December 19 to 30, 2011.