In the film The Agony and the Ecstasy Pope Julius II (Rex Harrison) repeatedly asks Michelangelo (Charlton Heston), "When will you make an end of it?" to which the constant reply is, "When I am finished." The resident staff here in the communities where we stay, Jesuits back home, even the delegates themselves, are asking, "When will the Congregation end?" And we could well … [Read more...]
Ad negotia
Presentation and discussion of the decrees.
News
Global Collaboration for Global Challenges: Structures and Networks Beyond Provinces
Creation of a new Province
Under the same banner – By Paulin Manwelo, SJ
What will come out of all these discussions?
New Provincial
“You are the Curia!” Fr. Sosa meets with the lay staff of the General Curia
Linking Life and Mission – Interview with Fr. Rafael Velasco, SJ
The Birth and Life of a Decree
New Provincials for South Asia
From Caracas to Rome: The Story of Arturo Sosa
Naming of Provincials Continues
On the Care for Our Elderly Jesuits – Interview with Fr. Cipriano Díaz, SJ
“The work of reconciliation: To Accompany the victims towards a greater human community”- Interview with Francisco de Roux, SJ
New Provincials
Never been done before: the novelties of # GC36
Sant’ Egidio: “Prayer – Service to the Poor – Peace” by Martin Lenk, SJ
General Council begins to shape
Discerning with young people on our common journey – by Nicolas Standaert, SJ
Where are we?
Interpreters and translators
“Faces from the Frontiers” – by John Dardis, SJ
A “group outing” to the beauty, history and Christian adventure
Who helps the General to govern?
Father Sosa as Delegate for the Roman Houses
« A man used to work in complex situations »
“For me, who is Arturo Sosa?” by Arturo Peraza, SJ, Provincial of Venezuela
A First Encounter with the Press
The Congregation continues after the election…
Blog
The Never-ending Mystery of the Cross
Many Faces, One Apostolic Body
In August of 1534, a small group of seven companions gathered in the little chapel of the Crypt of Saint Denis in Montmartre, Paris, to celebrate the Eucharist. There they pronounced their vows, and promised to go to Jerusalem to spend their lives in the service of their Lord. As a result of the prevailing armed conflicts and disruptions in 1537, their desire to … [Read more...]
Putting Things in Perspective
We in the Congregation look forward to Saturdays, a half day of work, followed by free time in Rome. This last Saturday, despite the threat of rain, 15 of us went to the Gesù, the site of our opening Mass and of the Mass of thanksgiving for the election of the new General. We went for a more ‘touristy’ aim, but I, for one, was not left just as a tourist. A fine Italian … [Read more...]
A Distraction
I have an armed guard outside my bedroom. Two soldiers and an armoured car. At first I thought that it might be to protect the Brexit Provincial from the hordes of angry Roman Pro-Europeans, but I was assured that this was not the case and this strategy was part of a generally heightened security around Italy following the terrorist attacks in France and Germany. For the … [Read more...]
“Giving Birth” at GC 36
It is still three weeks before the Church begins the Season of Advent. I may not always have the patience and the grace of the Biblical Job, but I love the Advent Season. It is a period of waiting, of expecting, of longing, of hoping, of desiring! St. Ignatius was big on desires. He enjoined Jesuits, and everyone else, to be people of desires, big and great desires (though not … [Read more...]
Not your usual way of proceeding!
Imagine you wanted to come to a decision about a matter of great importance for you and those close to you, something that would shape your future. How would you go about it? Usually we try to lay out the options, maximize possible goods and minimize harms, etc. As someone who worked in university ministry for many years, I know that path only too well. It can in fact work … [Read more...]
Crimson Tide
The late Tony Scott, was a movie director who was somewhat overshadowed by his more acclaimed Oscar-winning film-maker brother, Ridley Scott; but the corpus of Tony’s movie work, if more populist, is not slight. “Top Gun”, with Tom Cruise, was Scott’s breakthrough movie; and others ( e.g. ‘Enemy of the State’ and ‘Déjà Vu’) are certainly worth an evening of popcorn and … [Read more...]
Trying Something New
We start each day of the GC in prayer. I believe many of us find this a uniting and consoling experience. It is well prepared and settles us for the day and tasks ahead. We have also learned to hear, and even sing, in languages foreign to most of us, such as Swahili, Guarani, Bahasa Indonesia and Hindi, but we try and it works. As Jesuits, we do not seek to pray the Divine … [Read more...]
One step at a time
Slowly, but surely and confidently, the tortoise eventually arrives at its destination! In the dizzyingly fast pace of life, there is some wisdom in occasionally taking a pause, stepping back a little, taking stock, resetting one’s compass and refreshing oneself, before again putting one foot after the other. When a seed is planted, patience is needed to allow the needed time … [Read more...]
The ‘Francis effects’
Well, the ‘Francis effect’ continues in the Aula as elsewhere. So many people speak of the Holy Father’s address as something we will mine for years, long after this Congregation ends. In one conversation after another, people have spoken of how his words and his presence moved them to prayer. I certainly know that too. Yet, now back to business, dealing with a variety of … [Read more...]
Walking Together
I find I am easily moved when I listen to Ennio Morricone’s soundtrack to the 1986 film The Mission. This is probably because the film and its music capture a particular Jesuit and Indigenous context of joy and suffering I can identify with. How much more was I moved yesterday when I found myself listening to a fellow Jesuit and violinist begin our morning prayer with this … [Read more...]
A Southerly Wind
At this time of the year in Rome they talk of the Sirocco, the warm southerly winds that originate in the Sahara Desert and blow across the Mediterranean. These interchange quite freely with the cold winds from the north coming over the Alps and the Apennines. So one day is warm and sunny with clear skies and the next is cloudy, wet and cold. Every morning, before I leave the … [Read more...]
The Eyes and Ears of the Heart
At our Jesuit School of Theology—Hekima University College—in Nairobi, Kenya, there are a series of unique paintings of the Way/Stations of the Cross in the chapel. Of the various people portrayed, only the eyes of one person—those of Jesus—are open. All others are closed! I have often wondered what the artist, poet and theologian from Cameroun, Fr. Engelbert MVENG, SJ, wanted … [Read more...]
Oh for a window!
No doubt you’ve all seen pictures of the Aula, the hall in which we meet daily. Those responsible for remodeling the space did a wonderful job; it is a great place to meet. As we pray in the morning, that ‘choir style’, facing each other encourages the prayer. Wonderful as it is, however, someone brought a simple fact to our attention today, a simple point with a much more … [Read more...]
Moonraker
Over the last year, I have been reading and enjoying the James Bond novels. It is good to get beyond the famous movie franchise and see Bond and the narratives as they were originally portrayed by the author, Ian Fleming. Fleming’s prose is wonderfully visual and crisp. As the story-line in the novels develops, Bond matures: the tightly-coiled 007 of Casino Royale is simple, … [Read more...]
On the richness of this diversity
This week we have beens reviewing our Jesuit governance, before moving to elect Fr General’s four Assistants ad providentiam which would then lead to his appointment of the members of the General Council. GC35 emphasised that our Jesuit form of governance was at the service of universal mission: ‘As governance in the Society is always measured in an appropriate balance of … [Read more...]
I Am A Jesuit, I Know Where My Heart Is …
We are back, after the weekend off. We now have a new Superior General, and we now are faced with the task of choosing a team of Assistants and Consultors to Assist him in the task of governing the Society of Jesus. But before we got into the business of naming the men, we decided to take a look at the possible need of revamping some of our governance structures. Governance … [Read more...]
Gathered around St. Ignatius to give thanks
Fr. Arturo Sosa is one day old today as the 31st Superior General of the Society of Jesus! At 11:25am yesterday, 14 October, he was declared elected. Pope Francis was immediately informed. At 11:35am the Vicar General proclaimed the “Decree of Election.” At 11:40am, the new General made his profession of faith. And so begins a new mission, a new life, for this man who turns 68 … [Read more...]