The Jesuit Companions in Indigenous Ministry (JCIM) core team convened at Holy Cross Parish in Hsinchu County, Taiwan from 8 to 12 November to advance their mission of meaningful engagement and empowerment of Indigenous Peoples across Asia Pacific. Continue reading “Forging the direction for accompanying Indigenous Peoples in Asia Pacific”
Forging the direction for accompanying Indigenous Peoples in Asia Pacific
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”
JesCom network reconnects in Hong Kong
The Jesuit Communications (JesCom) network in Asia Pacific convened in Hong Kong from 3 to 5 July for their first face-to-face meeting since the pandemic. The gathering, facilitated by Fr Emmanuel Alfonso SJ, conference Secretary for Social Communications, Continue reading “JesCom network reconnects in Hong Kong”
A harbour of friendship amid tumultuous seas
The Migrants and Refugees Network of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP) is made up of active and dedicated people working in this Jesuit ministry. Continue reading “A harbour of friendship amid tumultuous seas”
Bishop Stephen Chow SJ elevated to cardinal
Bishop Stephen Chow SJ of Hong Kong was among 21 bishops raised to the rank of cardinal by Pope Francis during a ceremony at St Peter’s Square in Vatican City on 30 September. Continue reading “Bishop Stephen Chow SJ elevated to cardinal”
A time of hope and change
Fr Tony Moreno SJ, President of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific, called the recent assembly of major superiors a “historic” one. Continue reading “A time of hope and change”
Defining the work of safeguarding
It was a full week of rich sharing and learning for the Safety in Ministry network as they met face to face at St Peter Canisius House in Pymble, New South Wales from 22 to 28 January. Continue reading “Defining the work of safeguarding”
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”
The joy of giving
“You can’t have a long face and be a development officer.” These words from Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP) President Fr Tony Moreno SJ certainly proved Continue reading “The joy of giving”
Synodality at the first Christmas
The encounters with Jesus in the manger are no accident. There are signposts which are heard and seen. In the case of the shepherds, the angel appears before them and declares: “Do not be afraid…, a saviour has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord…, you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” The shepherds are vigilant, mindful, responsive, and prayerful. After seeing Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus, they are overjoyed, and in thankful praise, they glorify God “for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them”.
We have a similar account with the visit of the magi. They are overjoyed at seeing the star. They are attentive, responsive, prayerful, and courageous. They follow the star until they reach the place where Jesus is. They adore him and open their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In a dream, the message becomes clear: they should not return to Herod, and they are to travel to their country “by another way”.
At the first Christmas, we have a striking picture of synodality – the shepherds and magi journeying together separately and willing to be led by the angel or by the star. They see, listen, focus, and find Jesus. They are not disengaged, indifferent, and inattentive. They eventually tell the story of their encounter with the Lord, and share their joys and hopes with others.
Pope Francis has convened the Synod on Synodality last October, so we can experience true conversion, and that we may see the realities around us, listen to each other more deeply, and listen to the Spirit as we walk together in pursuit of the mission. If we have the disposition of the shepherds and the magi, their willingness to see, listen, and be led, we can encounter the Lord, and thus share our joys and hopes with others. Rafael Luciani, an eminent lay Venezuelan theologian and member of the theological commission for the Synod on Synodality, says that this gathering is the next most important event of the Church after Vatican II. Reform and conversion are at the heart of synodality. The conversion of mindsets, dispositions, and attitudes of all the baptised, not only the ordained ministers, is needed just as structures of the governance in the Church have to be transformed. Clericalism, careerism, and self-referentiality have no place in the Church. They have to give in to communion, participation, and mission.
Synodality is our way of being and living. It is a collective response to what is terribly lacking in our Church and world. This is our response to the world that is plagued with failure to listen and see, always wanting to control and dominate, and privatised faith without any sense for community. May Christmas not simply be for us an experience of joy and giving, but more importantly, an event of journeying together, of listening and seeing, of being led to a deep encounter with Jesus, and our own transformation for the mission.
A blessed Christmas and a hope-filled 2022.
Tony Moreno SJ
President, Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific
Christmas 2021