From Nairobi

The 70th Congregation of Procurators began this morning with a concelebrated mass at 9:00 am presided by Father General. Two members of the Congregation are absent for different reasons, Father Federico Lombardi and Father Lisbert D’Souza.

The liturgy was well prepared and was a true spiritual experience for all. The readings were proclaimed in different international languages, while the songs were in various African languages.

In his homily, Fr Nicolas commented on the readings of the day’s liturgy, highlighting that we had been gathered here from all over the world and called to unity because God has chosen us. Therefore, we can say with the prophet Hoseah: “You are my Lord”. Turning to the Gospel, he reminds us that we are sinners, but that God is fully alive in us and gives us strength and life as He did with the girl in the Gospel of Matthew.

The first informal session that followed gave a historical overview of the Congregations of Procurators in the Society of Jesus and communicated some general information. During this session there was distribution of working material. Afterwards, each Conference met in separate groups to suggest possible names for the secretary of the Congregation, and to propose to Fr. General names for the Steering Committee.

The first session of the congregation took place in the afternoon. The Formula (procedures) was explained together with some juridical aspects. At the end Father General gave a brief exhortation to the participants to live with intensity this experience of the Society celebrated for the first time in Africa .

From Nairobi

Today end the eight days of Spiritual Exercises of the procurators who have come to participate in the Congregation of Procurators here in Nairobi. All, whether in the English or the Spanish group, expressed satisfaction in their experience of retreat together.

Tomorrow, Sunday, will be a day of rest and relaxation. The organizers here in Nairobi  have prepared various possibilities: cultural (for example, a visit to the “Bomas of Kenya,” a panoramic view of the culture and peoples of Kenya, or the Nairobi National Museum); ecological (a visit to the Nairobi National Park); pastoral (participation at Eucharist in some parishes of the city, such as Joseph the Worker in Kangemi, run by the Jesuits, or the Chapel of St. Paul.)

Some points of interest regarding the Congregation. 84 Procurators are present in Nairobi, of whom 7 are from Africa, 14 from Latin America, 18 from South Asia, 7 from Asia Pacific, 29 from Europe, and 9 from the United States. 13 others will participate in the Congregation by virtue of their office.

The average age of all the Procurators is 51.79, while the average age of all the participants (including those participating ex officio) is 53.41. By continent, Africa is the youngest, with an average age of 46.14, followed by Central and Eastern Europe with an average age of 47.83. The highest average ages are those of South Asia and the U.S.A., both of which have an average age of 54.78. 

by Tim Muldoon

In this age when more and more people describe themselves as spiritual but not religious, it is helpful to recall Ignatius’s understanding of the purpose of prayer, devotions, and participation in liturgy.

In what pertains to prayer, meditation, and study and also in regard to the bodily practices of fasts, vigils, and other austerities or penances, it does not seem expedient to give them any other rule than that which discreet charity dictates to them, provided that the confessor should always be informed…. (Constitutions 582)

All these acts of worship, public and private, are to help conform ourselves to Christ so that we may labor with the rest of the Church in the Lord’s vineyard. There is always an “ecclesial” dimension to spirituality–that is, it is never private. It must always be part of Christ’s work in the world. Prayer is to the work of discipleship what exercise is to performance in competition: both make us ready.

Ignatius, ever the realist, is aware of our tendency toward laziness in devotion:

they should be vigilant that these practices may not be relaxed to such an extent that the spirit grows cold and the human and lower passions grow warm.

While going to church is not the end of our existence–rather, laboring to do Christ’s work in the world is–still it is necessary because it reminds us constantly that the work is not our own.

by J. Michael Sparough, SJ
    Tim Hipskind, SJ
    Jimmy Manny

Knowing that we can trust our experience is the first and perhaps the most fundamental lesson about discernment. Books and ideas and the counsel of the wise are all well and good, but the main arena for discernment is what we ourselves experience. We can discern the right direction by thoughtful reflection on our relationships with others, our work in the world, and on the feelings generated by these encounters. They are meaningful because God is in them. Our life is the classroom where the Schoolmaster teaches and guides us.

Whole systems of thought and belief challenge this idea. Ancient philosophical traditions hold that the physical world of matter and human bodies is a corrupt reflection of ideal forms that exist in the heavens. A theological tradition that began with Augustine and blossomed in Calvinism holds that human judgment and reason are hopelessly corrupted by sin, and that emotions are particularly suspect. One of the key ideas of Eastern religions is that this world is essentially an illusion, and that enlightenment comes as we rid ourselves of desires and ambitions and feelings.

In this argument, Ignatius stands firmly on the side of human experience. It is real; it is meaningful; it is trustworthy when we understand it properly.

From 28-30 May eight new European provincials came to stay at the St. Benedict community in order to brief themselves on our Jesuit works and ministries at European level.
In attendance were: Vincente Durá (ARA), Franck Janin (BML), Stefan Kiechle (GER), Dermot Preston (BRI), Guillermo Rodríguez-Izquierdo (BET), Francisco Ruiz (ESP), Ante Tustonic (CRO) and Johan Verschueren (BSE/NER).

On the first evening there was a briefing on the work and financial structures of the CEP and a presentation of the European Jesuit Communications Service followed by Mass and dinner with the Saint Benedict community.

On the following day there were visits to JESC, the Foyer Catholique Européen, the European school at Ixelles, a presentation of the work of JRS-E and finally Mass and a buffet supper at the Chapelle de la Résurrection with about 60 invited guests.

On the final morning the provincials had a very useful session with Fr. Dardis inviting them to give their suggestions and comments. The group then went to the European Parliament for a meeting with Sylvie Goulard (MEP). In a frank exchange she spoke about the issues of transparency in the European institutions, the relationship of the parliament with the churches and the current financial crisis.

• 
  PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
• The Road to Daybreak – A Spiritual Journey

13th Week in Ordinary Time

• 1 Jul   Sunday
• 2 Jul
• 3 Jul   St Thomas, Apostle
• 4 Jul
• 5 Jul   St Anthony Zaccaria, Priest
• 6 Jul   St Maria Goretti, Virgin & Martyr
• 7 Jul

14th Week in Ordinary Time

• 8 Jul   Sunday
• 9 Jul
• 10 Jul
• 11 Jul   St Benedict, Abbot
• 12 Jul
• 13 Jul
• 14 Jul   St Camillus de Lellis, Priest

15th Week in Ordinary Time

• 15 Jul   Sunday
• 16 Jul   Our Lady of Mount Carmel
• 17 Jul
• 18 Jul
• 19 Jul
• 20 Jul   St Apollinaris, Bishop & Martyr
• 21 Jul

16th Week in Ordinary Time

• 22 Jul   Sunday
• 23 Jul   St Bridget of Sweden, Religious
• 24 Jul   St Sharbel Makhluf, Priest
• 25 Jul   St James, Apostle
• 26 Jul   Ss Joachim and Anne, Parents of the BVM
• 27 Jul
• 28 Jul

17th Week in Ordinary Time

• 29 Jul   Sunday
• 30 Jul   St Peter Chrysologus, Bishop & Doctor
• 31 Jul

The World Union of Jesuit Alumni(ae) was established on July 31st, 1956 at Bilbao, Spain during the Congress of Loyola held on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the death of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Its intention was to unify all alumni(ae) of all Jesuit educational institutions through their local, regional, national and international organizations in one common apostolic effort.

The objectives of WUJA are as follows: (1) Preserve and develop bonds of friendship, communication and solidarity among alumni(ae) throughout the world; (2) Encourage alumni(ae) to co-operate actively with the Society of Jesus in its various missions: particularly in education, spiritual life, community service and social justice and (3) Inspire alumni(ae) to implement the education, which they were given, based on Christian humanism and Ignatian spirit, above all so that they play their part, through their personal life and their social action, in building a world where people can fulfill themselves with complete dignity.

Through the history of WUJA, there have been seven World Congresses. 1956 in Bilbao, Spain; 1967 in Rome, Italy; 1986 in Versailles, France; 1991 in Bilbao – Loyola to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the birth of Saint Ignatius. The subsequent congresses have been held outside Europe – in the year 1997 the congress was in Sydney, Australia; in 2003 it was in Kolkata, India. The Seventh Congress was held in 2009 in Bujumbura, Burundi.

The Eighth Congress will be in Medellin, Colombia between 14 and 18 of August 2013. The Ninth Congress will be in the USA in 2017.

For more information about the World Union of Jesuit Alumni, visit www.jesuitalumni.org

by Jim Manney

A comment about the early Jesuits

There was, however, one “doctrine” that was fundamental for them, one that gave orientation to all their ministries and to the way they wanted to lead their own lives. It was the basic premise of the Exercises, even though it was buried unobtrusively in the fifteenth “Preliminary Observation”: the Creator deals directly with the creature, and the creature deals directly with the Creator—heart to heart, one might say. Upon this teaching Jesuits based their more characteristic themes—indifference, discernment, and inner devotion, or consolation.

Fr. General, Fr. Adolfo Nicolás, S.J., was welcomed warmly at the Jesuit Alumni meeting in St. Xavier’s Doranda, Ranchi in February 2012. He was accompanied by Frs. Marcos Recolons, SJ and Fr. Lisbert D Souza, SJ (General assistants).

Fr. General’s talk highlights the features and values of Jesuit education while asking for transformation to build a better humanity and cautions the parents and teachers about the influence of Media and Internet on the growing children.

Dear Brothers in Christ,

Fr. Augustin Nguyen Duc Thu went peacefully to the Lord on June 26, 2012, 9:30am at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne.

Fr. Augustin was born in Thach-Bich, Ha-dong, Vietnam, on May 16, 1938. He was ordained to the priesthood at the Vietnamese Martyrs Church, Saigon on Dec. 21, 1967, entered the Society in Thu-duc, Vietnam, on July 13, 1968, and professed his last vows on Feb. 2, 1980 at St. Ignatius Church, Norwood, Adelaide, Australia.

All priests of the Chinese Province will celebrate one Mass first intention for Fr. Augustin’s eternal rest. Those who are not priests will offer one Mass and Communion and recite one “corona”.

Yours in Our Lord,

Luciano Morra, S.J.
Socius
Macau, June 26, 2012