The Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP) held its Vocation Promotions Directors meeting from 24 to 28 March at the Saint Robert Bellarmine Community in Taipei, Taiwan. This annual gathering brought together vocation promoters from across the region to deepen collaboration, share resources, and integrate Ignatian Pedagogy into vocation promotion. Continue reading “JCAP vocation promotions: Strengthening collaboration and capacity sharing”
JCAP vocation promotions: Strengthening collaboration and capacity sharing
A hope-filled discernment of vocations
For the first time, candidates and prenovices of the Society of Jesus from China, the Philippines, and Vietnam gathered on 8 March to foster friendship while engaging in a hope-filled discernment of our vocations. Held via Zoom, the gathering included 19 Vietnamese prenovices, 16 Filipino candidates, and two Chinese candidates. Continue reading “A hope-filled discernment of vocations”
A pause to hear the mission calling
The Asia Pacific Tertianship programme, which started in Manila last September, comes to an end on 1 March. A diverse group of Jesuit priests and one brother from the Philippines, Slovenia, Lithuania, Spain, South Korea, the United States, and Vietnam have completed the final period of their formal religious formation Continue reading “A pause to hear the mission calling”
A transformative Arrupe Month experience
The four Jesuit scholastics in the Chinese Province undertaking their theological studies participated in the month-long Arrupe Month. Continue reading “A transformative Arrupe Month experience”
AJCU-AP leaders meet in Beijing
The Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities in Asia Pacific (AJCU-AP) convened in Beijing, China, from 25 to 27 August for its Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) meeting. Hosted by The Beijing Center for Chinese Studies at the University of International Business and Economics, the gathering brought together 28 participants, including CEOs, senior leaders, and international networking officers (INOs), representing 15 member institutions from eight countries. Continue reading “AJCU-AP leaders meet in Beijing”
Life would be different if not for the Catholic faith
“It’s fulfilling, knowing that I am, in a small way, making a difference in someone’s life…” said Quinn Apprill-Sokol, a grade 12 student from St Louis University High School in the U.S. visiting Taiwan for a service program in January. Continue reading “Life would be different if not for the Catholic faith”
Fr John Lee Hua becomes first priest in Taiwan qualified by civil authorities to lawfully investigate child protection cases
Fr John Lee Hua SJ, who has dedicated himself to the work of protecting children and young adults, continues to refine his expertise in the field of child protection. Continue reading “Fr John Lee Hua becomes first priest in Taiwan qualified by civil authorities to lawfully investigate child protection cases”
Working and walking together as members of the “Jesuit” body of higher education
I attended for the first time the gathering of the International Networking Officers of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities – Asia Pacific Continue reading “Working and walking together as members of the “Jesuit” body of higher education”
TBC featured in IAJU’s Best Practices in Jesuit education
A paper by The Beijing Center (TBC) has been published in the “IAJU Best Practices in Jesuit Higher Education Project,” an initiative coordinated by the Kircher Network and composed of contributions from the International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU) regional networks. Continue reading “TBC featured in IAJU’s Best Practices in Jesuit education”
Deacons in the service of the Church
The Chinese Province of the Society of Jesus celebrated the ordination to the diaconate of two scholastics, Philip Fung Hon-chung SJ and Przemyslaw Mąk SJ, on 7 May at the Holy Family Church in Taipei. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the organising committee offered two options for people to participate in the liturgical celebration: in-person or through the livestream. Despite the challenges, the faithful, friends, and classmates of the two ordinands filled the church with enthusiasm.
The Archbishop of Taipei, Most Rev Thomas Chung, was initially scheduled to preside at the ordination. However, due to recent cases of infection at the Taipei Archdiocesan chancery office, Most Rev John Baptist Lee, the Bishop of Hsinchu Diocese and chairperson of the Chinese Regional Bishops’ Conference, presided over the liturgy instead. The Mass was also joined by more than 30 concelebrants.
Bishop Lee exhorted the two ordinands to immerse themselves in works of charity, deepen their spiritual life, and be fervent in evangelization. Later, two Jesuit priests, Fr Jaime Valenciano and Fr Barry Martinson vested the new deacons respectively with the stole and dalmatic.
Towards the end of the liturgy, the Socius of the Chinese Province, Fr Luciano Morra SJ, gave the thanksgiving speech on behalf of the Provincial, Fr Stephen Tong SJ, who is currently in Hong Kong and so was unable to attend the celebration due to travel restrictions from the pandemic. Fr Morra read Father Provincial’s letter in which he specifically thanked the Bishop for ordaining our two Jesuit brothers to the diaconate as servants of the Church.
In his letter, Fr Tong also mentioned the varied backgrounds of the new deacons: Philip is a neurologist while Przemyslaw is a ballroom dancer, yet the same Lord called them both and placed them together. This shows forth the diverse and international character of the Society of Jesus. Father Provincial sincerely hopes that the new deacons will reflect the image of God indefatigably in all circumstances.
Fr Tong also described the role and essence of deacons in the early Church. He encouraged the new deacons to concretely embody the spirit of Jesus expressed in his words: “I did not come to be served, but to serve,” He further exhorted them to live out the motto of the Jesuits: “For the Greater Glory of God” standing firmly on the foundation of the Holy Church.
Finally, Fr Tong expressed his gratitude for the generosity of the parents of the deacons. He hopes the two deacons will grow joyfully in their vocation.
At the end of liturgy, the new deacons gave thanksgiving speeches, each in their mother tongue, Cantonese and Polish, respectively. They expressed gratitude for the support of family and friends. Since this ordination day was also the Feast of Our Lady of China, the two deacons venerated the Holy Mother with a bouquet of flowers while singing and dancing to the Magnificat. In so doing they drew this heartwarming celebration to a perfect end.