News - Provinces and Regions

In a piece of land measuring 5m x 11m, we began building late last year a simple structure of wooden posts and a nylon mesh roof for the purpose of growing seedlings of hardwood trees native to Cambodia. Located within Banteay Prieb, the Jesuit-run vocational school for people with disabilities, the tree nursery is a collaborative effort of the agriculture students of the centre and their teacher Mr Mam Sony.

Bishop Jin of Shanghai, a prominent and controversial figure in the Church of China, died on April 27 aged 96 following a long struggle against pancreatic cancer.  His prominence was reflected in the title of his biography Le Pape Jaune (the Yellow Pope), written by French journalist Dorian Malovic in 2006.  Fr Michael Kelly SJ offers this article in memoriam. What mission takes

“To be man of the Spiritual Exercises and of the Constitutions” is the grace asked by those participating in the Cardoner Week, a new on-going formation programme in the Indonesian Province. The Province members of batches 1963 to 1999 (the year they joined the Society of Jesus) participate in this Monday to Friday programme to better understand their lives in the dynamic of St Ignatius’ life, to practice more creatively the Spiritual Exercises, and to be personally more familiar with the Jesuit Constitutions and related documents.

In a letter to Major Superiors on the occasion of the launch of the Year of Faith, Fr General Adolfo Nicolás, superior general of the Society of Jesus, welcomed the Holy Father’s call “to focus more explicitly on the gift of faith, and the witness and service we give to it”.

Korean Scholastic Benedict Kim Kundong SJ shares his encounters with people and places in a trip he made around Myanmar, after his regency in Yangon.

In September, the six Conference Presidents gathered in Rome for their annual meeting with Fr General. Although we came from very different parts of the world, we could experience much in common in our roles of service to the Society’s global mission. 

The Jesuits of the New York Province have produced a six-part video series that recounts their history of service to the people of Micronesia and introduces some of the Jesuit works and apostolates there. The Jesuits primarily serve in the parishes and schools in the states of Yap and Chuuk.  Micronesia is part of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific.

Days after the ordination of Myanmar’s first Jesuit priest, three young men took their first vows in Taunggyi, reflecting the Jesuit revival that began when the Society returned to the country in 1998. Novices John Bosco Oo, Saw John Paul Thurein and Peter Mwe Aung Seng were surrounded by their families as they took their vows at the Holy Infant Jesus parish in the grounds of Payaphyu, an orphanage and home for the handicapped in Taunggyi in Shan State on May 5. The Jesuit novitiate is located in the same compound.  

Father Antonio Moreno has been appointed Provincial of the Philippine Province (PHI). Fr Antonio is at present Superior and President of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University in Zamboanga City, Philippines. Fr Antonio takes over from Fr Jose (Jojo) Cecilio Magadia, who has been appointed General Counsellor for Formation.  Fr Jojo will take assume oversight for the formation of Jesuits and vocation promotion in October 2013. 

This year’s East Asia Theological Encounter Programme (EATEP) will be held from August 1 to 24.   EATEP is a Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific programme that adds to the theological formation of young Jesuits.  It focuses on Asia theology, inculturation of the Catholic faith and inter-religious dialogue, and includes an immersion experience in Buddhism.  It is held at the Seven Fountains Spirituality Centre in ChiangMai, Thailand.

In February, the Jesuits in Timor-Leste welcomed their latest collaborators in their education mission – the Religious of Jesus and Mary (RJM).  

The 13 communities of the Vietnam Province recently gathered to reflect on and share about their current missions as well as their apostolic plans.