It has been a pleasure for the Communication Team of GC36 to serve the worldwide Society of Jesus, its collaborators and friends, through a number of communication channels during the duration of this Congregation. Our work will remain available on the gc36.org website and through the Office of Communications and Public Relations of the General Curia. We wish that our … [Read more...]
Companions in a mission of reconciliation and justice
The one major decree that will come out of the Congregation will be the result of long conversations, both in small groups and in the aula, under the general theme of “Life and Mission of the Society”. Although the official text will be published by the General Curia only in a few weeks from now, we give you an idea of the summary and of the main themes that are dealt with in … [Read more...]
The concrete fruits of the 36th General Congregation
What decrees will be promulgated after this General Congregation? Which recommendations will be passed on to Father General? First of all, the one major decree that will come out of the Congregation will be the result of long conversations, both in small groups and in the aula, under the general theme of “Life and Mission of the Society”. A separate article tells you about … [Read more...]
Prayer of the Faithful for the Celebration of Thanksgiving at the end of GC36
For the holy Church of God throughout the world: may she announce courageously the gospel of salvation and witness joyfully to Christ crucified and risen, who gave his life for love of the world. For our Holy Father Francis: sustained by our prayer in his ministry the service of unity and mercy, confirmed us in faith, refreshed in hope and inflamed with charity towards God … [Read more...]
Gratitude – Source of Joy
Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you will do with your evenings, how you will spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your … [Read more...]
Spiritual conversation for decision making
Beyond electing the Superior General, the task of a General Congregation also includes preparing for the direction the Society of Jesus will take in the coming years. How can a diverse group of more than two hundred men reflect together in order to come to consensus? Specific topics need to be considered at various levels. Above all, at the personal level. Private time is … [Read more...]
Communitas ad dispersionem
“In their own communal apostolic discernment which led to the founding of the Society, Ignatius and his companions saw this as their unique call, their charism: to choose to be with Christ as servants of His mission, to be with people where they dwell and work and struggle, to bring the Gospel into their lives and labours. As pilgrims on Christ’s mission, we are ready to be … [Read more...]
What will come out of all these discussions?
The General Congregation is getting to the end of its work. Over the past few weeks, it had concentrated its efforts on the study of documents prepared and presented by committees or commissions. The delegates have to decide, finally, what will be their recommendations on these topics. They could vote a decree, they can make recommendations or give mandates to Fr. General or … [Read more...]
New Provincial
Father General announced the nomination of one new Provincial. Fr. Ireneo Valdez, 55, Provincial of the Province of Paraguay. He joined the Society of Jesus on February 20, 1988 and was ordained to the priesthood on July 24, 1999. At the moment, he is the Pastor of the Holy Family Parish in Asunción. … [Read more...]
Co-workers of God
On the day of the feast of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica, the mother of all churches let us contemplate on being co-workers of God‘s grace. A text of Blessed Oscar Romero can help us. He gives a vision of our work in the Church which is not perfect and has not to be perfect, because we are not perfect. But in beeing sober it frees and motivates us to be creative, … [Read more...]
Holy Spirit – Consolator optime
Ignatius about spiritual consolation: „By this kind of consolation I mean that which occurs when some interior motion is caused within the soul through which it comes to be inflamed with love of its Creator and Lord. As a result it can love no created thing on the face of the earth in itself, but only in the Creator of them all. Similarly, this consolation is experienced … [Read more...]
The Secretary of the Society and four Assistants ad Providentiam
Here is a more detailed presentation of the four Assistants ad Providentiam who were elected on Friday, November 4, 2016. The four are among the General Counsellors that Father General appointed to his council last week. Four Assistants ad providentiam Fr. Vernon D'Cunha comes from the Province of Bombay (BOM). He was born in Mumbai, India, in 1956. He entered the … [Read more...]
New Provincials for South Asia
This morning, November 5, the announcement of three new Provincials were made by Father General. They all belong to Provinces of the South Asia Conference. Fr. Sebastian Jeerakassery, 46, Provincial of Delhi Province. He joined the Society of Jesus on July 1st, 1989 and was ordained to the priesthood on November 7, 2004. At the present time, he is Superior of St. Xavier’s … [Read more...]
Saints – Formed by the Grace of God
„There are very few people who realize what God would make of them if they abandoned themselves entirely to His hands, and let themselves be formed by His Grace. A thick and shapeless tree trunk would never believe that it could become a statue, admired as a miracle of sculpture ... and would never consent to submit itself to the chisel of the sculptor who, as St. Augustine … [Read more...]
From Caracas to Rome: The Story of Arturo Sosa
Two days after his election, the communications team of General Congregation 36 sat down with Father General Arturo Sosa to discuss his life and thought. The conversation introduces the new Superior General in a way that is more personal, to Jesuits and the wider Ignatian family around the world. Here you can download the interview in different languages: Spanish - English - … [Read more...]
Availability – The Strength of our Mission
Availability is the strength of our mission: “Availability is to be an attitude of the individual Jesuit and a characteristic of the whole Society: mobile, agile, responding to the needs of a fast-changing world.“ GC34, D21,1 “To be joined with Christ as his companions in obedience to the will of the Father allows us to become servants of his mission of evangelization. … [Read more...]
Boldness – A Fruit of Deep Trust in the Will of God
Today we celebrate Blessed Rupert Mayer, a German Jesuit who lived and worked mainly in Munich. In his town he was well known as helper of the poor, as a brave preacher against the Regime of the Nazis and as a defender of the freedom of the Church. For this he was arrested and imprisoned by the Gestapo, and then sent to a concentration camp. Later he was transferred to a … [Read more...]
New Provincials
At the beginning of the morning session, this Tuesday, November 2nd, Father General announced the nomination of two Provincials : · Fr. Chukwuyenum A. Afiawari, Provincial of Africa North West Province (ANW). Father Afiawari, 52, entered the Society on 7 September 1987 and was ordained on 22 July 2000. At present he is Rector at Arrupe College, Harare, … [Read more...]
All Souls Day
The encounter with Christ is the decisive act of judgement. Before his gaze all falsehood melts away. This encounter with him, as it burns us, transforms and frees us, allowing us to become truly ourselves. All that we build during our lives can prove to be mere straw, pure bluster, and it collapses. Yet in the pain of this encounter, when the impurity and sickness of our lives … [Read more...]
General Council begins to shape
On Monday, October 31, Father General Arturo Sosa announced the appointment of members of the General Council. He also announced that, as established by the Formula, the General Congregation would begin a four-day preparatory process for the election of the Assistants ad Providentiam on November 4. The members of the General Council that Father Sosa announced include … [Read more...]
For our Brothers
From the beginnings the Society had conceived of itself as a universal “body”. This Pauline methaphor cf. 1 Cor. 12,12ff, much loved by Saint Ignatius and used frequently in the Constitutions to refer to the entire Society, expressed his idea of our vocation as both one and diverse. GC 34, D 7, 4 On the Feast of our Saint Brother Alphonsus Rogríguez we pray especially for our … [Read more...]
The first interview with Fr. Arturo Sosa, SJ
Two days after his election, the communications team of General Congregation 36 sat down with Father General Arturo Sosa to discuss his life and thought. The conversation introduces the new Superior General in a way that is more personal, to Jesuits and the wider Ignatian family around the world. Here you can download the interview in different … [Read more...]
Where are we?
“I now decree the convocation of the 36th General Congregation, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” With these words, on December 8, 2014, Father Adolfo Nicolás convoked the 36th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus, and set October 3, 2016 as the opening date. As required by the Formula of a General Congregation, the preparatory phase was … [Read more...]
“To ask insistently for consolation” by Sunu Hardiyanta, SJ
Pope Francis’ exhortation to the members of GC 36 encouraging us ‘to ask insistently for consolation’ stirred and confirmed me. This bring me back to a graceful moment when I found that ‘God is never pretending to me’. He always gives me ‘His Cross’, He also always gives me ‘His Resurrection’. I had had many experiences of the Cross in my close family: when my younger sister … [Read more...]
Were not our hearts burning…?
Pope Francis walked into the Hall of the General Congregation on 24 October 2016. His was a presence so serene as he took part in our morning prayer and gave us his blessing. The way forward for us, he told us, is through fidelity to our original charism which is both ecclesial and social. The charism of St Ignatius Loyola is deeply ecclesial. He came to Rome with his first … [Read more...]
Community life
A group of students intending to enter the Society had formed a community in Louvain. Ignatius wrote them a letter in 1547. In his letter we read about community life: „You have laid upon yourselves a heavy obligation to live holy and pious lives: having separated yourselves from others in your residence and way of life, you will be under everyone’s observation and on … [Read more...]
Make me a channel of your peace
Saint Mother Teresa had all her life a deep relationship to ignatian Spirituality. As a Business Card she liked to distribute the following words, which can be seen as an unfolding of the contemplativus in actione: The fruit of silence is prayer. The fruit of prayer is faith. The fruit of faith is love. The fruit of love is service. The fruit of service is peace. Saint … [Read more...]
Discourse of the Holy Father Francis to the members of GC36
In the Aula of the General Congregation – General Curia of the Society of Jesus October 24th, 2016. Dear Brothers and Friends in the Lord: While praying and thinking about what I would say to you, I remembered with particular affection the final words of Blessed Paul VI to us as he was setting out the purpose of the 32nd General Congregation: “This is the way; this is the … [Read more...]
Pope Francis’ Visit to the Congregation
There is a well-established tradition that on the occasion of a Jesuit General Congregation, the Holy Father meets with the delegates. Since most of the time this happens as an audience in the rooms of the Vatican, it is not the first time that the pope himself choose to meet the Jesuits as they are gathered in the General Congregation in the curia of the Society. So this … [Read more...]
The Good Shepherd
Franz van de Lugt SJ, a member of the Near East Province, lived and worked in Syria, mainly in Homs as spiritual guide especially for the youth. He was killed on the 7th of April 2014, aged 76. In him we have the image of a Good Shepherd: his hope in the resurrection strengthened him in his ministry. In March 2014 he wrote: “Just as I have shared with the Syrian people their … [Read more...]
Magnificat
When God is in the midst of people, relationships are full of life. We see this in the encounter between Elizabeth and Mary: there is so much joy, appreciation, sharing, understanding, movement, life, freedom, peace and uplifting of the soul to praise God. There is no room for envy, jealousy, hate, violence, numbness, narrowness... We find the same dynamic of uplifting the … [Read more...]
Homily of Fr. Arturo Sosa, SJ – ITA
Testo integrale dell’omelia di p. Arturo Sosa SJ, in occasione della celebrazione di ringraziamento per la sua elezione a superiore generale della Compagnia di Gesù Roma, Chiesa del Gesù, 15/10/2016 Carissimi fratelli Pochi giorni fa, in questa stessa Chiesa del Gesù, dove riposano i resti di Sant’Ignazio e Pedro Arrupe, p. Bruno Cadorè ci ha invitati ad avere … [Read more...]
Miserando atque Eligendo
GC32 states: "What is it to be a Jesuit? It is to know that one is a sinner, yet called to be a companion of Jesus." D 2,1 These words are echoed in the answer Pope Francis gave to the question „Who is Jorge Mario Bergolio: "The best summary, the one that comes more from the inside and I feel most true is this: I am a sinner whom the Lord has looked upon.” And the Pope … [Read more...]
“For me, who is Arturo Sosa?” by Arturo Peraza, SJ, Provincial of Venezuela
Today I can say that for four days many companions have asked me in many different ways the question of who is Arturo Sosa? Never have I had to talk about a person so many times, and, especially, in English. It was the repetition of a personal history, that the more it was repeated, brought to mind new memories; and at the same time a serene interior conviction that this was … [Read more...]
A First Encounter with the Press
Just a few days after his election, Father General Arturo Sosa met with some 70 journalists in the aula of the General Congregation, his baptism to this kind of event as Superior General of the Society of Jesus. He was introduced by Fr. Federico Lombardi who mentioned that the new General had been part of the 33rd General Congregation in 1983 as the youngest delegate. Fr. … [Read more...]
ThanksgivingMass
Thanksgiving Mass Saturday - October 15th at 10.30 (CEST) The newly elected Father. General Arturo Sosa SJ will preside over the Thanksgiving Mass in the Church of the Gesù in Rome. The celebration will be streamed live here, on https://gc36.org … [Read more...]
Father Arturo Sosa SJ, 31st General of the Society of Jesus
The 36th General Congregation has elected Father Arturo Sosa Abascal, of the Jesuit Province of Venezuela as Superior General. Father Sosa was born in Caracas, Venezuela on 12 November 1948. Until his election, Father Sosa has been Delegate for Interprovincial Houses of the Society in Rome, as well as serving on the General Council as a Counsellor. He obtained a licentiate in … [Read more...]
The Mass of the Holy Spirit or “The Holy Eucharist in view of the election”
The day of the election of the future General, the electors gather to celebrate the Eucharist; they invoke the Holy Spirit once again that he inspire them at the moment of the vote which will commence immediately after the celebration. This year, the Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit will be presided over by Fr. James Grummer, who until the election of the new superior general, … [Read more...]
Prayer of the Faithful – Mass of the Holy Spirit
Let us lift up our common prayer to the Father so that the Holy Spirit may guide and enlighten the minds and the hearts of those entrusted to his work of sanctification. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia That through the Spirit of fortitude and of wisdom, you give to all the baptized the courage to proclaim that “Jesus is the Lord”, so that the message of salvation bears fruit … [Read more...]
A special ballot for the election of the General
In the course of their labors, the members of a General Congregation have many occasions to cast votes. At times, there is need of electing someone. However, most votes are about propositions on texts, which if adopted, become part of the norms to guide the Society of Jesus in the years ahead. For the first time, a large part of the votes is happening digitally using the … [Read more...]
As in the middle of a balance
“It is necessary to keep as my objective the end for which I am created, to praise God our Lord and save my soul. Furthermore, I ought to find myself indifferent, that is, without any disordered affection, to such an extent that I am not more inclined or emotionally disposed toward taking the matter proposed rather than relinquishing it, nor more toward relinquishing it rather … [Read more...]
Friday, October 14: Election of the New General
Friday, October 14: Election of the New General The Election will take place after the Delegates concelebrate the Eucharist at 7:30 AM in the Church of the Holy Spirit in Rome. Please keep the Electors in your thoughts and prayers as the entire Society entrusts the Election process to God. … [Read more...]
Drawing on the Audacity of the «Unexpected»
May the Lord grant you the grace, throughout your reflections and discernment, to be guided, to be brought to life, in this audacity to make explicit through your commitments, your words, your solidarity, the always unexpected voice of the One who hopes in the world, who overcomes death and establishes life, the One to whom you seek to give the greatest glory. (...) It is … [Read more...]
Infuse your breath in me, O Holy Spirit
God, gather and turn my thoughts to you. With you there is light, you do not forget me. With you there is help and patience. I do not understand your ways, but you know the way for me. Dietrich Bonhoeffer In regard to the qualities which are desirable in the superior general, the first is that he should be closely united with God our Lord and intimate with Him in prayer and … [Read more...]
Silence – Adoration
Come, You Spirit of Quiet. Guide me into your Stillness that I might hear in myself the Word you speak. Free me from all Fear hat all which binds me leaves me and leaves me to who I am. Open as a vast chalice I want Your wonders, Your fullness, Your holy presence gently to seize me. Come You Spirit of Breath, breathe your breath into my thoughts, into my feelings. Come and … [Read more...]
The grace of discernment
“We decided to come together for some days before separating, to discuss with one another our vocation and manner of life. After doing this for several days, we were divided by different ideas and opinions concerning our state of life. There was unity of mind and purpose: to seek the gracious and perfect will of God according to the scope of our vocation; but there were various … [Read more...]
Today’s struggles seen from the perspective of the Trinity – Interview with John Dardis, SJ
Over the coming days, the GC36 Media Team will share with you stories of Jesuits from different parts of the world. Today we caught up with Fr. John Dardis, a Jesuit from Ireland who is also President of the Conference of European Provincials. He shared his reflections on the contribution the European experience could bring to the General Congregation, starting with what was … [Read more...]
The Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of the Society of Jesus
God, gather and turn my thoughts to you. With you there is light, you do not forget me. With you there is help and patience. I do not understand your ways, but you know the way for me. Dietrich Bonhoeffer For Ignatius the veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary was an essential part of his spirituality. At crucial points in his life Ignatius had recourse to her … [Read more...]
Make my heart like unto yours
Our earliest companions, even though they considered themselves weak and fragile and originating from many different places, found the will of God together amid great diversity of opinion. What enabled them to find God’s will was their “decided care and alertness to initiate a completely open way” and to offer themselves fully to it for the greater glory of God. Thus they began … [Read more...]
Works of Art in the New Aula
The hall of the Congregation is sober and its furnishings are designed to favor, first of all, the concentration of those gathered on their task. The surroundings do not distract the eye. However, those who designed the hall asked Slovenian Jesuit artist Marko Ivan Rupnik to add some visual elements in the spirit of the work that would be done in this space. Rupnik is known … [Read more...]
Friends in the Lord
Father, in the Holy Spirit, inflame the hearts of all your sons in the Society of Jesus with the fire that our three founding fathers, Ignatius, Francis Xavier and Peter Faber, drew from the Heart of Jesus, your Son, Our Lord, Saviour and King. Give us, Lord, the wisdom of our Father Ignatius so that we may recognise – and respond to – the call of the Spirit in our lives, … [Read more...]
In search of the Magis
Those who wish to give greater proof in their love, and to distinguish themselves in whatever concerns the service of the Eternal King and the Lord of all, will not only offer themselves entirely for the work… but make offering of greater value and of more importance. Ex. Sp. 97 The magis is not simply one among others in a list of Jesuit characteristics. It permeates them all. … [Read more...]
La preparazione della Congregazione fuori da Roma
Le Conferenze della Compagnia delle diverse parti del mondo sono state coinvolte nella preparazione dal momento dell’annuncio della convocazione della congregazione generale da parte del P. Generale nel dicembre del 2014. I loro delegati hanno organizzato delle riunioni per la preparazione della congregazione. Di recente, le Conferenze hanno collaborato all’ampio progetto di … [Read more...]
The name of Jesus our Salvation
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2,9-11) In the name of Jesus we are united in prayer, to praise God and to give him thanks for our … [Read more...]
Fr. Bruno Cadoré, OP, to the Jesuits: The faith of audacity – the faith of the humble servant
The 215 members of the Jesuit General Congregation 36 celebrated Mass at the Church of the Gesù on October 2, to launch the Congregation. The main presider was Father Bruno Cadoré, the Master of the Order of Preachers (also known as the Dominican Order). The relationship between the Dominicans and Jesuits goes back to the conversion of Saint Ignatius, who would ask himself, “If … [Read more...]
The preparation of the Congregation outside of Rome
The Jesuit Conferences of different parts of the world have been involved in the preparation of the GC since the announcement made by Fr. General in December 2014. They have held preparatory meetings of their delegates. More recently, they have collaborated in a broad communication project which aims to make the 36th General Congregation an event that reaches all Jesuits and … [Read more...]
They have come from all over the world
In the days leading up to the 36th General Congregation’s opening plenary session, the members of the congregation trickled in, a few at a time. Some have come from far away. The Indonesian provincial, Fr. Sunu, travelled more than 20 hours. He is glad to have the opportunity to share his experiences in a Country that has one of the largest Muslim populations in the world but … [Read more...]
Veni Creator Spiritus
Spirit of wisdom and understanding, deepen our silence so we may seek and find you in all things. Spirit of right judgment and courage, breathe in us the desire and zeal to bring justice and mercy to your people. Spirit of knowledge and reverence, guide us in the footsteps of Jesus along the pathway of the Kingdom. Spirit of wonder and awe, open our eyes to the mystery of … [Read more...]
Never be tired to shine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVF0i5FHwnE … [Read more...]
Presented in a Press Conference #GC36 which will elect the 30th successor of Saint Ignatius
The General Curia of the Society of Jesus this morning hosted a press conference to present the 36th General Congregation which will open on October 2, with a concelebrated Mass at the Church of Gesù at 5:00 p.m. (not 5:30 as earlier announced). Introducing the press conference, Father Patrick Mulemi, SJ, director of the Communications and Public Relations Office of the … [Read more...]
“Today the church needs to grow in discernment”. A private encounter of Pope Francis with some Polish Jesuits
During his Apostolic Trip in Poland on the occasion of the 31st World Youth Day, July 30, 2016—first vespers of St Ignatius of Loyola—at 5 p,m., Pope Francis met with a group of 28 Polish Jesuits belonging to two Provinces of the Society of Jesus of the country and two lay collaborators, accompanied by the two Father Provincials, Fr Tomasz Ortman and Fr. Jakub Kolacz. Attended … [Read more...]
Prayer for GC36
God our Father, almighty and merciful, You sent Your Son Jesus, Your living Word, to save the human race by His life, death, and resurrection, and You send Your Holy Spirit to inspire and accompany Your pilgrim Church on earth. With confidence, we pray for the Society that bears the name of Jesus: Grant the 36th General Congregation openness to hear your … [Read more...]