On Wednesday, November 2nd, in the aula of the General Congregation, Fr. Arturo Sosa wanted to meet with the lay people who work in the General Curia of the Society of Jesus. They were some fifty members of the staff who work daily, side by side, with the Jesuits in various positions: administrators, information technology professionals, secretaries, cooks, cleaners, gardeners and other employees. It is a tradition that the General meets with his co-workers soon after the end of a General Congregation. Unexpectedly, Fr. Sosa wanted to meet them in the course of the congregation. Immediately after the event, we collected the warm testimonials to some participants. Here are those we received in English.
It was a surprise meeting for me, since the gc36 is still ongoing. It was an informal meeting though with Fr General’s addressing and thanking us how important the curia staff is…. Quoting to all of us “YOU ARE THE CURIA”. His thoughts on it and promising dialogues to further improve relationships and work for the better of the Society. Having worked for him during the preparatory phase of the GC, I could not help but thank our Lord for giving such a Godly man to lead the Society of Jesus. (Alex Poyaoan/Segreteria Generale-ITC)
The meeting with the new Father General was an important moment for us at JRS. Since its founding, JRS has shared the values of the Society and contributed to its mission. We know that Father Sosa pays special attention to collaboration and interculturality, and these principles are at the basis of our daily work in support of refugees. With his guidance, the Society will understand and confront the challenges of the world today. We at JRS are happy to be part of this process of change. (Martina Bezzini/JRS)
On Wednesday 2 November, the Feast of All Souls, in the Aula of the General Congregation, Father General Arturo Sosa met with the lay people who work alongside the Jesuit community at the Curia of the Society of Jesus in Rome. These lay colleagues work in many and varied capacities, from administrators and Information Technology professionals, to cooks, cleaners and gardeners, in the Jesuit Refugee Service, the Roman Jesuit Archives and Library, and many other roles in service of the worldwide Society.
The meeting was the first time that the lay staff met with the Father General in his new role; but of course, most knew Fr. Sosa already, as the friendly colleague from Venezuela, living and working in the Curia, before his election on October 14. The warm and relaxed atmosphere of the meeting reflected this prior acquaintance, and opened the way naturally to focusing on the task at hand: “My election to this role has changed my life”, Fr. Sosa told us, “and, since this is a post that is held for life, it is a serious matter!” In view of this, he advised, “I need you all to help me in my work. We need to work together on the tasks that lie ahead. For this reason, I want to come and to talk to you and listen to your views about what is needed and how we need to do it.”
The response was animated and affirmative, captured in the group photograph, and consolidated by the lively individual greetings exchanged with the new Father General. For the staff at the Curia, as for Jesuits and their collaborators worldwide, Fr. Sosa enters history as the thirty-first General of the Society; for the group that met in Rome on November 2, this tie with the Father General carries extra significance and responsibility, for each member is called to walk many of the same corridors, paths and rooms as the thirtieth successor to Ignatius, in collaboration, service, and fellowship. (Camilla Russell/ARSI)