Over 50 Jesuits and lay collaborators gathered at Monte Cucco, just outside of Rome, to reflect on how Ignatian leadership and discernment can help realise the newly identified Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAPs), a mission from the Holy Father released to the Society of Jesus.

The participants composed of leadership development practitioners coming from a range of ministries – from parishes to retreat centres, high schools to universities, outreach centres to refugee services to province offices – included six from the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP): Fr Jojo Magadia SJ, Regional Assistant for Asia Pacific; Fr Adrianus Suyadi SJ, JCAP Secretary for Social Ministries; Fr Non Yamauchi SJ of the Japanese Province; Fr Benny Juliawan SJ of Sanata Dharma University in Indonesia; Dr Edna Franco of Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines; and Fr Karel San Juan SJ, President of Ateneo de Zamboanga University also in the Philippines.

Fr General Arturo Sosa SJ told all those gathered that the UAPs are “a call to conversion” and not merely a strategic plan or a checklist of ministries and activities. He also underlined the use of the term “preferences” rather than “priorities”. Whereas priorities emphasise the primacy of certain apostolates, probably establishing new ones and relegating some old ones, preferences should be understood more as “orientations” for focusing all Jesuit apostolates in the next 10 years.

“‘Orientations’ primarily are about giving direction which helps us reconsider and recalibrate our life and mission. UAPs are not about what to do, rather they are an inspiration about how to do, as Fr General put it”, shared Fr Juliawan.

“Working in institutions that are heritages of Jesuit legends and having very limited number of Jesuits and lay collaborators, I used to feel very lonely and powerless to respond to our mission. The conference gave me a new inspiration”, said Fr Yamauchi.

The meeting held from April 1 to 5 emphasised discernment as essential in leadership. Fr John Dardis SJ, General Counsellor for Discernment and Apostolic Planning, asked the participants to be open to a “prayer for leadership” that promotes spiritual conversion. The participants engaged in spiritual conversations in voicing their hopes and fears for the future of the Society of Jesus.

“Ignatian leadership centres around the formation of spiritual persons who are united with God in all their deeds. These persons build trust and inspire people around them to grow and work collaboratively for a mission. The mission in question is the mission of the Society”, said Fr Juliawan.

About half of the participants were lay people, evincing the move towards greater collaboration.

“They are really committed people who consider themselves Ignatian and even members of the Jesuit family”, said Fr Juliawan.

Dr Franco, a lay participant, serves as executive director of Ateneo de Manila’s Center for Organization Research and Development. “It was a priceless gift to be in the same room with Fr General and 49 other individuals from 23 coutries working as a community on the desire of the Society of Jesus ‘to find the best way to collaborate in the Lord’s mission, the best way to serve the Church at this time, the best contribution we can make with what we are and have, seeking to do what is for the greater divine service and the more universal good’”, she shared, quoting a letter of Fr General introducing the UAPs.

For Fr San Juan: “The meeting is an example of networking and collaboration of Jesuits and lay colleagues across cultures, to facilitate sharing of resources and expertise, and to foster friendship and community.”

The meeting reminded me of the proverb ,“More haste, less speed”, said Fr Yamauchi. “In order to implement the UAPs, we should not rush to conclusions. Instead we should start a pilgrimage of discernment with our collaborators. Although the process may take time, it is our way of proceeding. It is how we can implement the preferences in our life and mission.”

In his address Fr General used the term the “Collaborative Society” (Minima Compania Collaboradora) and encouraged the participants to promote lay vocations to be partners or collaborators in the mission.

“The call for collaboration is certainly growing louder”, said Fr Juliawan, “and if the Jesuits are serious about this, some changes to the way the Society is governed must be introduced in the future to reflect their significance.”