“The past,” Faulkner warned “is never dead”, nor is it really past. Until we break down the barrier of division and fear that goes back many generations, no new bridges of hope can be built. Ever since General Congregations 35 and 36, the Society of Jesus has made reconciliation a key message. It is the theme that brought Fr General Arturo Sosa to Asia in the summer of 2019.
Continue reading “Traveling the long road to peace and reconciliation”
This year’s gathering of treasurers and assistant treasurers from the 12 Jesuit governance units across Asia Pacific began with a day of prayer on the Society’s Universal Apostolic Preferences. Fr Tony Moreno SJ, JCAP President, led the recollection on August 26, at Manresa Retreat Center in Changhua, Taiwan. All the participants were grateful for the opportunity to assimilate the UAPs into their life-mission to “administer the goods of the Society” for promoting the mission of reconciliation and justice. The Spirit’s invitation to renewal was palpably felt as participants shared the fruits of their prayer.
Solidarity
A heightened sense of solidarity was a fruit of the treasurers’ shared prayer. Sessions on personal and professional sharing were marked by openness and transparency, as each participant candidly disclosed both professional struggles and best practices. Four new treasurers from Indonesia, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam were particularly grateful for the sharing sessions. This appreciation was expressed through comments such as: “I feel welcome here”, “Professional sharing is very helpful and inspiring“, “Inter-connected; Union of minds and hearts” and “We have become friends so we can move together in mission”. The treasurers unquestionably prized their emerging identity as companions-in-mission.
Sustainability
Another fruit of the gathering was a renewed concern for the sustainability of young missions like Myanmar, East Timor, Thailand, and Cambodia. Commitment to contribute to the JCAP Solidarity in Formation Fund was reaffirmed–even treasurers from financially struggling units committed to share, according to capacity, for solidarity’s sake.
By year 2020, the Asia Pacific Treasurers agreed to come up with guidelines and suggested practices that formation delegates can use in promoting an appreciation of both the Society’s Statutes on Religious Poverty as well as financial literacy skills. These guidelines and practices will comply with both the Code of Canon Law and Instruction on the Animation of Goods (IAG) standards. Hopefully, this common project can help in the promotion of a culture of stewardship and prepare our young men to become treasurers someday.
Fr Eric G Velandria SJ is the JCAP Treasurer and Socius.
“Choosing life in a context filled with fear and anger and insecurity seems like a daunting task. But it is not impossible – not for followers of Christ.” This was Fr General Arturo Sosa’s message in his homily for the advance celebration of the Feast of St Ignatius in Taipei.
The Superior General of the Society of Jesus visited Taiwan from July 27 to 29 accompanied by his Regional Assistants Fr Jojo Magadia SJ for Asia Pacific and Fr Vernon D’Cunha SJ for South Asia, as well as Fr Pierre Bélanger SJ of the Jesuit Communication team in Rome and Fr Stephen Chow SJ, the Chinese Provincial.
Fr Sosa’s message to never lose faith, despite the difficulties was the main takeaway of his entire trip to the country. “Deuteronomy mentions two actions”, he shared. “‘Choose life’, it says, and then right after that, you are told, first, ‘to love the Lord your God’ and second, ‘to walk in his ways’.”
In his meeting with the Magis youth in the Tien Educational Center, Fr Sosa encouraged the young people not to be afraid to face the world, even to change it, to keep walking ahead because God would be always be with them as a beacon to guide them.
The Superior General was able to see how this courageous faith is being lived out in the social apostolates of the Jesuits in Taiwan. On his first day in Taipei he went to the Rerum Novarum Social Service Center founded by Fr José Ellacuría SJ in 1971. Over the years as society has changed, Rerum Novarum’s services have expanded from low-paid, overworked labourers to migrant workers in Taiwan and migrant workers on fishing boats subject to unequal treatment. The centre manifests the Gospel in action. Fr Sosa showed particular concern for the migrant fishermen.
In Chutung, an hour-and-a-half’s drive from Taipei where Jesuits have served the indigenous populations since the 1950s, Fr General experienced the culture of aboriginal Christians. He concelebrated the Sunday Mass which was a showcase of multiculturality with parishioners who are Han Chinese, Hakka people, Atayal and Saisiyat indigenous peoples, and migrants from Vietnam and the Philippines. Next to the church, there was a display of indigenous hunting and other tools. Fr Sosa wore an aboriginal jacket and tried to draw a bow.
Many other meetings were held to enable Fr Sosa to get to know the Jesuits and partners involved with the work of the Society of Jesus in Taiwan. His audience with lay collaborators included no less than the Vice President of Taiwan, Chen Chien-jen. They shared with Fr General how they live out and promote the Universal Apostolic Preferences. In his address to the teachers and students of Fu Jen Faculty of Theology of St Robert Bellarmine, Fr Sosa praised the theologate for nurturing men and women able to take on a variety of responsibilities within the Church. He also had an opportunity to meet the apostolic mission collaborators of the Jesuits at Fu Jen Catholic University and got to know their work.
Fr General’s visitations are of course opportunities to strengthen Jesuit brotherhood. Before he ended his trip, Fr Sosa paid a visit to the elderly Jesuits in St Joseph’s Province Infirmary. Then he spoke to the Jesuits in Taiwan and presided at a Mass with them.
Family, friends and members of religious communities gathered on the bright morning of June 8 to witness the diaconate ordination of Joseph Dang Do Nhan SJ by Most Rev John B Shan-Chuan Hung SVD, Archbishop of Taipei. The Mass was held at St Robert Bellarmine Chapel of Fu Jen Faculty of Theology of St Robert Bellarmine, New Taipei City.
The solemn rites were celebrated with music, indigenous dance and choir. The atmosphere was warm and joyful. Archbishop Hung encouraged Deacon Dang to serve God and fulfil His Holy Words with a pure heart. He also asked the congregation to pray for the new deacon’s family who have generously dedicated their son to God.
Deacon Dang expressed his gratitude foremost to the Lord who continues to love sinners like him. Originally from Vietnam, he also thanked the Vietnamese Province, where the seed of his vocation was planted and grew, and the Chinese Province for accepting his desire for an international Regency. Lastly, he thanked his family for their company, support and encouragement.
Deacon Dang first thought of becoming a priest as a child. The dream gradually faded out, but many years later, while at Mass, he found himself very touched by the singing of the Peace Prayer of St Francis. This time he decided to respond to God’s call. When he shared his desire to pursue the priesthood with his mother, she told him it was a difficult road to follow. “Dare you go to the end?” she asked. Deacon Dang replied, ”Just support me and give the rest to God. He will surely help me to complete this journey!”
Indeed, Deacon Dang has deeply felt God’s love and help throughout his vocation. Looking back he says his most impressive experience is failure. Instead of being frustrated, he believes failure has taught him to listen, to open himself up, to accept others more easily, to comfort others and to help others out of their worries. In the process, he always thanks God for accepting his imperfections and filling in his shortcomings from time to time.
Deacon Dang admits he is nervous about the responsibility that lies ahead, yet he is filled with hope in spreading Jesus’ love through social services. He believes that when you serve, people can see you as a witness of love. Quoting John 15:12, he said, “Love one another as I love you.”
Education Secretaries of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP) were in Taipei from May 14 to 18 to discuss the II COLLOQUIUM JESEDU JOGJA 2020, and to identify concrete ways in which the Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAPs) of the Society of Jesus can be promoted by our schools.
II COLLOQUIUM JESEDU JOGJA 2020 is the second global gathering of Jesuit secondary schools. The first international colloquium was held in Boston College in 2012. About 500 school leaders will gather in Sanata Dharma University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia from June 29 to July 4, 2020 to learn more about “Educating for depth and reconciliation”.
The education secretaries held spiritual conversations on the UAPs. To concretise the conversations, they identified what they considered “crucial threats” and “promising opportunities” in their work of education.
“The discussions were rich and full of fresh insights that should guide our schools in concretising these apostolic preferences this decade”, said JCAP Education Secretary Fr Johnny Go SJ. “The conversations about the UAPs are expected to continue among our schools”, he added.
Apart from the annual reports from the Provinces and the Regions, the group also took the opportunity to visit St Ignatius High School (徐匯中學), where each learned about the school’s flagship formation programme called Life Education.
Community-building, immersion, daily Masses, city tour, academic lectures, periods of reflection, food expeditions, museum visits, efficient train rides, Christmas festivities and lasting friendships – these are just some of the tags that can summarise the 10-day Scholastics and Brothers Circle (SBC) workshop in Taiwan from December 15 to 25.
A total of 37 formands of 15 nationalities (six Vietnamese, five Burmese, four Filipinos, four Indonesians, three Koreans, three Australians, two Thais, two Timorese, two Chinese, an Italian, a Singaporean, a Malaysian, an Indian, a Polish, and a Japanese) participated in the workshop that centred on “Indigenous Ministry and the Mission of the Jesuits in China”. Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific Socius Fr Eric Velandria SJ and Formation Delegate Fr Riyo Mursanto SJ accompanied the participants.
Fr Olivier Lardinois SJ, who combines pastoral work with indigenous peoples and doctoral studies in anthropology, facilitated the meeting. Most of the activities, including residences of the participants, were held in Fu Jen Faculty of Theology of St Robert Bellarmine Community in New Taipei City. Fr David Yen SJ, the Jesuit Delegate to Fu Jen, provided a hands-on tour of the campus and explained the philosophical meanings of the designs and locations of the buildings.
In the morning of December 17, the participants had their team building activities despite the 13°C temperature outside. In the afternoon, at Tien Center at Sacred Heart Parish, Guting, Fr Emmanuel Lim SJ, Delegate for China of the Chinese Provincial, talked about the mission of the Chinese Province. Part of the talk was the introduction to the staff of Magis Center. Chinese Provincial Fr Stephen Chow SJ celebrated the Mass followed by a sumptuous Chinese dinner with the lay and Jesuit community of Sacred Heart. There they met the lively Fr Andres Diaz de Rabago SJ, the oldest member of the Chinese Province at 102 years old! After dinner, Fr Lardinois brought the group to Longshan Temple to witness the faith of many Taiwanese Buddhists. The Temple also serves as refuge for many homeless at night.
December 19 to 21 were days dedicated to living with indigenous peoples, mostly of the Atayal Tribe of Central Taiwan. A day prior, Fr Lardinois oriented the participants about Taiwan Aborigines and the Jesuit indigenous ministry, and took them to Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines.
A two-hour bus ride took the participants from Fu Jen University to the Jesuit Parish in Zhudong, Hsinchu Hsien. They were welcomed by very engaging lay persons who shared about the parish’s pastoral services, particularly the intensive catechetical programmes to young and old.
The formands were divided into four groups for their immersion: one group went with Fr Yves Nalet SJ to Shilei, another to Xinguang with Parish Priest Fr Corneille Heynanns SJ, group three to Qunqquan where Fr Barry Martinson SJ was waiting and group four to Nalou with Fr Lardinois. It took three hours of navigating the zigzag road before they reached their mission stations.
The participants gained plenty of memorable experiences from the immersion, such as the meaningful conversations with indigenous peoples and experiencing their warm hospitality, bathing in hot springs in 10°C weather, tasting sautéed and stewed flying squirrels and house-to-house Christmas carolling.
Italian Scholastic Cesare Gabriele Sposetti SJ, shared: “As a ‘westerner’, I never before had the opportunity to meet indigenous cultures. This kind of encounter helped me to have a wider picture of the cultural and human variety of this part of the world.”
On the way back to Taipei, the participants stopped by St Aloysius Technical School at Hsinpu, Hsinchu Hsien. This Jesuit educational institution has produced several quality technocrats in Taiwan. Many were astonished to realise that behind the school’s success are laypersons led by Principal Jerry Jyh-Lung Tang.
On December 22, Fr Lardinois provided a synthesis of the immersion experience by placing his expertise in anthropology side by side the Ignatian paradigm. This was supplemented by the brief sharing of each group of the fruits of their structured reflections and spiritual conversations. Then it was the participants’ turn to present. Each country reported about their respective province’s or region’s effort in serving indigenous peoples. In the evening, the group held a Christmas party.
The remaining days were devoted to excursions around Taipei. The formands made sure not to miss the National Palace Museum to see the paintings of Br Giuseppe Castiglione SJ, imperial painter to Emperors Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong in the mid-18th century.
Although only 10 days, the SBC workshop in Taiwan fortified the formands’ appreciation of the Chinese Jesuit Province and the ministry to the indigenous peoples.
In 2014, the major superiors of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific decided that the youth had to be a priority for the Jesuit Conference. They saw a clear need to accompany young people in the way of St Ignatius, which is marked by cura personalis (personal care), discernment and magis (more). Continue reading “A path to magis for young people”
