After the close of business on 23 December 2009, Fr Thomas B. Steinbugler (PHI) will complete his term as Treasurer of the Jesuit Conference of East Asia and Oceania.
All financial matters pertaining to the Conference should then be directed to: Fr. Benedict Kang-Yup Jung. Telephone numbers and mailing address all remain the same.
The new Socius for the Jesuit Conference of East Asia and Oceania arrived last November 11 in the person of Fr Benedict Jung Kang-yup (KOR), taking over Fr Pham Minh-Uoc (ASL). We thank Fr Minh-Uoc for his faithful service and wish him well as he continues his ministry at the EAPI. Fr Benedict is also the understudy of Fr Tom Steinbugler (PHI) in the area of finances.
Beginning January 4, 2010, the EAPI, in lieu of the usual Effective Steward Leadership course, will be offering a special training course on Biblical Pastoral Training which is in collaboration with the Catholic Biblical Federation (CBF) Southeast Asian Region. This course is especially designed to pastoral workers who are mostly involved in biblical ministry in their respective mission and work posts. It will end on April 2.
Since June 2009, new members have joined the Staff community. Fr James Meehan (PHI) joined the EAPI to help out with the spiritual accompaniment. Fr Arthur Leger (MIC) to assist in the academics. A Salesian priest, Fr. Dennis Paez, has also joined to be a course co-coordinator and resource person in the Sabbatical Pilgrimage Experience.
The annual Alumni Homecoming was held this year in the afternoon of October 7. Months before this, invitations were sent mostly to the alumni and friends who are based all over the Philippines. For this year’s highlight, Sr.
Fr Jerry Martinson (CHN) reflects on the subtleties of learning and integrating into a different culture as a Catholic television program producer. Read more. . .
The World Assembly of SIGNIS (World Catholic Association for Communication) met in Chiang Mai, Thailand in October to discuss the theme Media for a Culture of Peace: Children’s Rights, Tomorrow’s Promise. The Assembly was conducted by SIGNIS President Mr.
Fr Christian Cochini's (CHN) Guide to Buddhist Temples of China - History and Cultural heritage of the main monasteries of the Han nationality, published in Macau by the Macau Ricci Institute, has been recently released. This 528-page English edition of the Guide to Buddhist Temples of China, an exceptional translation of a French edition first published last year, is an ambitious work. Yet this remarkably compact and clearly edited book offers everything a traveller may need for an encounter with Chinese Buddhism. In spite of the seemingly vast amounts of information, Fr Cochini has thoughtfully created an intimate, dynamic portrait of Chinese Buddhism and life among the major monasteries of the Han nationality, from its foundation to the present day.
MAGiS 2011 begins at Loyola on 5 August, moves to the provinces of Spain and Portugal for the experiments from 8 - 15, then to Madrid for WYD which concludes on the 21st. Organizers are planning for 3000 participants, each should be at least 18 years old as of 5 August 2011. Fr Abel Toraño (CAS) is in charge.
Two Jesuits from OCIPE in Brussels, Frs. José Ignacio Garcia (CAS) and Jacques Haers (BSE), are present at the COP15 Climate Conference in Copenhagen as NGO observers, part of a team of Franciscans International. They keep up a blog, with posts in English and in Spanish, reflecting their personal reflections and experiences. This blog can be visited at http://ignatianeconet.wordpress.com.
Human development is about putting people at the centre of development. It is about people realizing their potential, increasing their choices and enjoying the freedom to lead lives they value. Since 1990, annual Human Development Reports have explored challenges including poverty, gender, democracy, human rights, cultural liberty, globalization, water scarcity and climate change.
UNESCO continued its review with Fr Pedro Walpole (PHI) of the teaching through Pulangiyen, a mother tongue based curriculum at Apu Palamugwan Cultural Education Center (APC) near the Bukidnon/Agusan province boundary in Mindanao, Philippines. Working from the indigenous culture that is seeking ancestral recognition of rights from the government, the relationship of education and the land has become increasingly important.
Fr Pedro Walpole (PHI), through his engagement with Asia Forest Network (AFN), had an opportunity to follow up on the actions agreed upon during the Jesuit Conference Social Ministries meeting in Manila last August. In October 2009, with Rowena Soriaga of AFN, he visited several Jesuits in Indonesia interested in contributing to a network of people currently involved in environment related activities.
On December 7, Fr Roger Champoux (PHI), Director of EAO International Tertianship wrote, “The Tertians are on their way for their second experiment – the Christmas Ministries. We finished the long retreat one week ago and all seemed very happy with this most important experience of the Tertianship. We were in our Jesuit Novitiate of Novaliches, together with a group of other retreatants (Jesuit novices, seminarians, priests and
The fifth East Asia Theological Encounter Program (EATEP) will be held at The Seven Fountains Spirituality Center in Chiangmai, Thailand, on April 16 – May 19, 2010. Scholastics in theology should ask their rectors and/or provincials for permission to attend. Rectors and formation directors should decide who might profit from this program. For further information see the website http://freewebs.com/johnjshea.
Fr David Yen (CHN), director of Fu Jen Catholic University Service-Learning Centre in Taipei reports that a group of students and teachers from the University participated in a service trip to work in the houses for the dying in Kolkata, India that were founded by Blessed Mother Teresa. In fact, for a number of years, the Catholic University in Taiwan has been organizing yearly service trips visiting such places as India, Mongolia, Cambodia and parts of Taiwan where those most in need live. These missionary experiences of charity are aimed at help
CHICAGO, November 2, 2009 In October, as part of its formal partnership with the Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training, Loyola University Chicago jointly developed and conducted a University Management Training (UMT) program with Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCMC) to provide leaders of Vietnamese universities the opportunity to learn about best practices in U.S. higher education and to evaluate their applicability to the Vietnamese higher-education setting.
“Conversations 2009” in Davao amongst the universities and apostolates brought a clear focus to what Jesuit institutions can do, even though they may not seem to be the experts. Clearly it is everyone’s concern and interest to adapt in the face of climate change. Davao, already expecting to have a dryer climate in the future, is sure to draw up numerous responses.
Fr Primativo Viray (PHI) invited Fr Pedro Walpole (PHI) to the Juniors’ Social Forum. The day’s discussions with scholastics raised significant questions about poverty and how those who are bound to the land are poor, since they receive no benefit from society for the quality of ecological services drawn from their areas yet destroyed by others. It also drew people to consider how they might better seek experiences in reading the signs of the times in what they want to do and analyze what could be just and effective action.
"Another Long Retreat is over. Thank for your prayers and support," wrote Fr Wardi Saputra (IDO) last Nov 30. Out of the eight primi making retreat, two have already gone home and decided not to continue.
Fr Boboy Silerio (PHI) accompanies the novices at night and works with the St Aloysius English Language Institute (SAGELI) during the day. On December 3, Fr Paul Dass (MAS), who will be the next SAG director, made a brief visit.
Last week I had the great luck of being able to go to the villages in the region of Banon with Phally, Theara and Javivhín. They are three members of the team of the Arrupe Center that work in remote villages helping disabled people.
10th Meeting of the Prefecture of Battambang
Siem Reap, October 20-22, 2009
Our life is full of experiences that spin and interweave, making up realities of life completely unsuspected, exceeding many times our dreams and expectations. The strength of life and the faithfulness of God in his love with his people is manifested with extreme clarity. This is our experience in Cambodia.
The Kuangchi Program Service in Taipei has produced a documentary on Paul Xu Guangqi - China's Man for all Seasons which also describes the work of Matteo Ricci. You can watch the trailer of the video on the right hand side of the page on this URL: http://www.catholictv.tv/english.html. It's the box just below the red highlighted subtitle “Discoveries from...Taiwan and Indonesia.” This is available for sale in DVD. For queries, contact Mhike J.
On the eve of worldwide commemoration of the fourth hundred anniversary of Matteo Ricci’s death (1610), The Macau Ricci Institute, faithful to the cultural and intellectual heritage of its great patron, held on November 25-27 its International Symposium dedicated to the intellectual and humanistic Jesuit formation that Matteo Ricci has brought to China.
Isabel Guterres, a former East Timorese refugee and later a Jesuit Refugee Service team member in Thailand, has paid tribute to the Jesuits while accepting the Australian Catholic University's highest honour, Doctor of the University, at a ceremony in Bacau, East Timor. Read more. . .
Australians today are living in a world where the choices they make have an enormous power to make a difference in the lives of people in developing countries, former Australian Democrats leader Cheryl Kernot told young business leaders at the Jesuit Social Services Just Leadership Breakfast last week. Read more. . .
Four Jesuits were ordained as deacons in a joyful celebration at St Ignatius Church in Richmond, Australia on 3 December.
Korean Jesuits Shin-jae Youh, Jin-hyon Lee, and Jin-hyuk Park, were joined by East Timorese Jesuit Plínio Gusmão Martins at the ordination, with Bishop Greg O'Kelly presiding. Read more. . .
The Jesuit Seven-Year Plan for the Environment was launched at a ceremony at Windsor Castle in England on November 4, along with hundreds of other plans by different faiths, denominations, and religious orders.
Jesuit conferences, provinces, works, communities, and individuals are encouraged, with the help of this plan, to fulfill the mandate of GC35 to "move beyond doubts and indifference and take responsibility for our home, the earth" (D. 3, no. 31).
Helping society recover a sense of God and improving the formation of Jesuits are among a number of challenges Father General Adolfo Nicolás says the Society of Jesus will need to face in the coming years.Read more. . .
May the God of hope
fill you with all joy and peace
as you trust in Him,
so that you may overflow
with hope by the power
of the Holy Spirit.
Romans (15:13)
I recently celebrated a mass at Bilibid, the maximum security prison south of Manila. On the wall of the Jesuit community I was struck by a quotation from the 1550 Formula of the Institute. In that document Ignatius visualises Jesuits as men drawn from different parts of the world, who are engaged both in spiritual ministries and ministries of compassion. Read more. . .
After the close of business on 23 December 2009, Fr Thomas B. Steinbugler (PHI) will complete his term as Treasurer of the Jesuit Conference of East Asia and Oceania. 
The new Socius for the Jesuit Conference of East Asia and Oceania arrived last November 11 in the person of Fr Benedict Jung Kang-yup (KOR)
Since June 2009, new members have joined the Staff community. Fr James Meehan (PHI) joined the EAPI to help out with the spiritual accompaniment. Fr Arthur Leger (MIC) to assist in the academics. A Salesian priest, Fr. Dennis Paez, has also joined to be a course co-coordinator and resource person in the Sabbatical Pilgrimage Experience.
MAGiS 2011 begins at Loyola on 5 August, moves to the provinces of Spain and Portugal for the experiments from 8 - 15, then to Madrid for WYD which concludes on the 21st. Organizers are planning for 3000 participants, each should be at least 18 years old as of 5 August 2011. Fr Abel Toraño (CAS) is in charge.
Human development is about putting people at the centre of development. It is about people realizing their potential, increasing their choices and enjoying the freedom to lead lives they value. Since 1990, annual Human Development Reports have explored challenges including poverty, gender, democracy, human rights, cultural liberty, globalization, water scarcity and climate change.
UNESCO continued its review with Fr Pedro Walpole (PHI) of the teaching through Pulangiyen, a mother tongue based curriculum at Apu Palamugwan Cultural Education Center (APC) near the Bukidnon/Agusan province boundary in Mindanao, Philippines. Working from the indigenous culture that is seeking ancestral recognition of rights from the government, the relationship of education and the land has become increasingly important.
On December 7, Fr Roger Champoux (PHI), Director of EAO International Tertianship wrote, “The Tertians are on their way for their second experiment – the Christmas Ministries. We finished the long retreat one week ago and all seemed very happy with this most important experience of the Tertianship. We were in our Jesuit Novitiate of Novaliches, together with a group of other retreatants (Jesuit novices, seminarians, priests and
Helping society recover a sense of God and improving the formation of Jesuits are among a number of challenges Father General Adolfo Nicolás says the Society of Jesus will need to face in the coming years. 
