Digital News Service SJ
Vol. XIV, N. 15, 20 July 2010
Appointments
- On 23 June 2010, Father General named Father Brian Mac Cuarta, of the Irish Province, Director of the Archivium
Romanum Societatis Iesu (ARSI) bringing the process of restructuring the Historical Institute of the Society of Jesus (IHSI)
and the Archives of the Society (ARSI) to a conclusion; the reconfiguration was announced on 25 February 2010 via a
circular letter (2010/04). Father MacCuarta will assume this post in autumn, replacing Father Marek Inglot (PME) who has
been Director ARSI for the past year; he will continue his services at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
- On 14 July, Father Ernesto Cavassa, President of the Conference of Latin American Provincials (CPAL) appointed
Conference Secretary, Father Juan Miguel Zaldua, of the province of Venezuela. Father Zaldua was born in Pamplona,
Spain in 1948, joined the Society of Jesus in 1965, and was ordained a priest in 1976. At the end of Regency he, like many
other Jesuits, left Spain for Venezuela, which became his second home. Father Juan Zaldua will begin his duties as Secretary
in March 2011, after a sabbatical in the province of Loyola.
From the Provinces
CHINA: Jesuits in Universities
In a letter, dated 28 March 2010, Father Louis Gendron, Provincial of China, highlighted "insertion in universities" as a
practical objective for the intellectual apostolate, and one of the priorities for the Chinese Province. Taking this letter into
account, Father Fernando Mateos, who has worked for many years in Taiwan, made a study of the commitment to universities
by Jesuits of his province, and discovered that Fathers Chow and Rothlin are teaching at Hong Kong University, Father
Sequeira is vice-rector of Macau Inter-University, and also in Macau, other four Jesuits are working in various universities.
Another province member is teaching at the Chinese University; eight Jesuits are working at Fu Jen Catholic University in
Taipei for a total of sixteen Jesuits "inserted in universities". "Certainly," says Father Mateos, "we are far from the 52 Jesuits
working in various universities between 1952 and 1967! From 1968 on to the end of the 20 th century, this commitment
decreased little by little. There were two principal reasons: first, the participation of the Society of Jesus in the
re-establishment of Fu Jen Catholic University, a specific desire of the Holy Father and Father Janssens, Superior General of
the Jesuits at the time, and, secondly, the continuous decrease of vocations in the years since the Second Vatican Council."
COLOMBIA: New headquarters for Colegio San José
On 12 May the new headquarters of Colegio San José in Barranquilla was inaugurated. The new campus was built according
to "green" construction standards, following the directives of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ( LEED)
system. Through the construction of this new 25,000 square meter building, the Society of Jesus wants to contribute, in a
significant way, to the preservation of the environment and employ a pedagogy in which the physical plant will be an
instrument to educate students towards a new ecological orientation. The college is the first in Latin America to be certified
as "green" and therefore is considered a pilot project. The work was completed at the end of May on a ten hectare campus;
the college opened in October 2009. For more information:
www.colsanjose.edu.co
HAITI: Six Months After the Earthquake
Little has changed since 12 January 2010, the day the earthquake claimed the lives of approximately 220,000 people, two
percent of the population, and made more than one million homeless in Haiti, according to the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS)
of Latin America and Caribbean. If anything, the daily life of ordinary Haitians has deteriorated. Hope for a brighter future
has been colored by uncertainty, skepticism and a lack of government action. Despite the announcement of a national
relocation plan for internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in camps, there is no clear strategy for the future. Moreover,
residents frequently receive threats from landowners, at times leading to a suspension of basic services such as water. The
residents frequently receive threats from landowners, at times leading to a suspension of basic services such as water. The
population has been left in the dark regarding possible relocation sites, access to basic services and the reconstruction of vital
infrastructure. Moreover eighty percent of officially sanctioned camps have no camp managers. "It is time the Haitian
government, international community and UN agencies take concrete steps to address the questions of: protection, food
security, education, sanitation and other needs of the most vulnerable populations, including those living in unofficial camps.
It is essential the international donor community release the funds promised for Haiti without restrictions and facilitate the
involvement of Haitian political and civil society groups in tackling the humanitarian crisis and initiating reconstruction in the
country", said JRS of Haiti Director Father Wismith Lazard, S.J.
PHILIPPINES: Promoting Social Entrepreneurship
"It will be a challenge for participants at an upcoming Jesuit forum to reconcile two seemingly opposing views on sustainable
development," notes the dean of the Jesuit business school in Manila. "In developed countries, it is about protecting the
environment but in developing countries, it is about alleviating poverty," states Rodolfo Ang, Dean of Ateneo de Manila
University's John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM). Dean Ang led preparations for the 16th World Forum of the
International Association of Jesuit Business Schools which is taking place at the Ateneo de Manila University 18-21 July.
Forty delegates from Jesuit business schools in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas are attending the event, which will
focus on "Educating Champions of Sustainable Development."
ROME: CVX-CLC at the United Nations
In 1975, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations added the Christian Life Communities
(CVX-CLC) to the list of its consultors. The mandate of the Economic and Social Council includes: development, world
trade, use of natural resources, the condition of women, population, social wealth, sciences and technology, crime prevention,
etc. In its capacity as a consultor, CVX-CLC acts as "go-between" with other organizations who are not on the list of general
or special consultors but whom the Council or the Secretary General of the United Nations believes could bring, on occasion,
useful insights to the work of the Council or its subsidiary organs. CVX-CLC has the right to send delegates to meetings, to
participate in debates, to present proposals and to collaborate with the Council and the Secretary of the United Nations in those
fields where it has experience. Members of CVX-CLC United Nations working groups met in Rome during the month of
June to discuss a course of action in order to give more emphasis to role. For more information about CVX-CLC go to:
www.cvx-clc.net
USA: Jesuits Hold First Midwest Tri-Province Days
The first tri-Province Days of the Chicago, Detroit and Wisconsin Provinces were held this past June. The more than 440
Jesuits were hosted on the campus of Marquette University and reflected on the future reconfiguration of the three Provinces,
which will eventually result in one combined Province for the entire Great Lakes/Midwestern region. The gathering was
deemed a success according to participants; it was opened by Father Tom Smolich, president of the Jesuit Conference of the
United States. In his address Father Smolich reminded the Jesuits that the future combined Province was a response to "the
call of Christ" and not a business or administrative decision. The two days were filled with meetings and small-group
discussions. The Friday evening ordination saw more than 200 concelebrants as six Jesuits from the Midwest were ordained
by the Most Rev. Blase J. Cupich, bishop of Rapid City, S.D. Pictures from the event can be found on
http://bit.ly/midwestprovincedays
USA: Irish Born Jesuit in Top Publishing Post
Irish born Father Paul Campbell, S.J. has been made Publisher of Loyola Press, the Jesuit publishing company in Chicago
whose titles include the 100,000-copy bestseller My Life with the Saints by Father James Martin, S.J., and Heroic Leadership
by Chris Lowney. On the digital front, over 120 titles are currently available as eBooks, and three titles as iPod apps that
afford consumers an experience of their faith through mobile devices. According to the Belfast-born Jesuit, "The title of
publisher will allow me greater access to key decision-makers among our customers, and it underlines the commitment of the
Society of Jesus to this important ministry." Ms. Teresa Locke has been appointed President of Loyola Press, and
responsible for moving the Press forward into the digital publishing arena. Ms. Locke and Fr. Campbell are no strangers to
the Irish Province, having collaborated with Father Brian Grogan, S.J. on Ignatian Spirituality projects.
TANZANIA: Inter-Denominational Conscientization at Radio Kwizera
In Tanzania the daily programs of prevention and conscientization on HIV/AIDS broadcast by Radio Kwizera are encouraged
by many Muslim leaders and pastors of various Christian churches. Very popular among the audience is Mimi na wewe
tunawesa ("You and Me; Together We Can!" in kiswahili), a program broadcast on the radio station managed by the East
African Jesuit Province and heard in Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo; the station has nearly
six millions listeners. The radio programs on HIV/AIDS deal with a variety of themes including: methods of transmission,
the impact on the infected, the role of psychological counselors, secondary effects of anti-retroviral medications, prevention
according to the teaching of the Catholic Church, etc. Many people tune in to listen. "In spite of the apparent over-abundance
of news, in the sub-Saharan Africa there is still need for good information. Many people remain unaware about this matter and
local religious leaders have underlined the need for educating them in order to reach personal maturity... We do our best to
invite experts: doctors and religious leaders, who want to share their testimonies, expertise and viewpoints, to speak on the
radio about the pandemic," said Father Damas Missanga S.J., director of Radio Kwizera.
The 4th centenary of Matteo Ricci's death
China: Pilgrimage of the Macerata diocese. From the 4th to the 14th of July the diocese of Macerata organized a
pilgrimage to China following the footsteps of Father Matteo Ricci. The pilgrimage was lead by Bishop Claudio Giuliodori
of Macerata. Hong Kong, Macau, Canton, Shanghai, Xi'An and Bejing were the locations visited by the pilgrims. The most
remarkable site was to the grave of Father Ricci, the first person from Europe to be buried inside the Forbidden City thanks to
the order of emperor Wanlì of the Ming dynasty. The pilgrimage was "a most significant experience which completes this
special year of 2010 devoted to remembering the historical person, Father Matteo Ricci." After the opening of the Vatican
exhibition At the Crests of History: Father Matteo Ricci (1552-1610) between Rome and Peking, the Pope's special
audience on the 29th of May and the UNESCO symposium in Paris, the calendar of the celebrations for the fourth anniversary
of Matteo Ricci's death was enriched by another trip to the land where Ricci carried out this incredible work of Gospel
inculturation.
Shanghai: The lesson of Matteo Ricci and Xu Guangqi. To mark 400 years of dialogue and cultural exchange initiated by
Matteo Ricci, on 11 May 2010, Mr. Michel Camdessus inaugurated an international forum on the "Dialogue among
Civilizations and Global Challenges" held at the new Xu-Ricci Dialogue Research Centre at Fudan University in Shanghai.
Mr. Camdessus was Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from 1987 to 2000. He is currently
president of the Semaines Sociales de France and a member of the Commission for Africa established by former British Prime
Minister Tony Blair. He is also a member of the Pontifical Commission for Justice and Peace. The conference may be
viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK00854KOGo
Jesuitica
The unstoppable Père Marquette
A century ago the states of Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio in the USA and the province of Ontario in Canada, saw many
locomotives and rail ferries named after one particular Jesuit. The Père Marquette Railway operated in the Great Lakes
region, from its incorporation in 1900 until its merger with other railroads in 1947. The company was named after Father
Jacques Marquette, S.J. (1637-1675), a French Jesuit missionary who founded Michigan's first European settlement, Sault
Ste. Marie, and left his mark and his name all over the US mid-West, having travelled vast distances by foot and by canoe; he
traveled down the Mississippi River to the mouth of the Arkansas River.
New in SJWEB
- A slide shows about the visit of Father General to the Russian Region. Click on "sjweb Media".
- A podcast with Fr. Joseph Xavier, a Jesuit from the Madurai Province (India) who has been coordinator of social ministry at
the Jesuit Conference of South Asia in Delhi and sent to the Orissa region to encourage and motivate the people after the
attacks, destruction of property, and killings perpetrated by Hindu extremists. He is participating in the Jesuit Task Force on
ecology. Click on "Jesuit Voices".
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