December 2009

Paths to compassion

Submitted on December 21, 2009 - 5:28 pm

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. . .

JCEAO President's Schedule for December 2009 – January 2010

Submitted on December 19, 2009 - 2:07 pm
Dec 06 – 09 In Hong Kong for JEC-EAO National Coordinators Meeting
Dec 11 – 15 In Tokyo, Japan for Migration Conference
Jan 05 In Manila, Philippines for the Meeting of Philippine Superiors

JCEAO Upcoming events December 2009 – January 2010

Submitted on December 19, 2009 - 2:13 pm
Dec 06 – 09 Jesuit Education Commission-EAO National Coordinators Meeting,  Hong Kong
Dec 17 – 30

Fr Tom Stein steps down as JCEAO Treasurer

Submitted on December 19, 2009 - 3:02 pm

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.

Welcome Fr Benedict and Anne

Submitted on December 19, 2009 - 3:10 pm

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.

EAPI Course Offering 2010

Submitted on December 19, 2009 - 3:20 pm

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.

New faces, new facility at EAPI

Submitted on December 19, 2009 - 3:28 pm

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.

EAPI Alumni Homecoming

Submitted on December 19, 2009 - 3:34 pm

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.

Sowing Seeds of Faith on Television

Submitted on December 19, 2009 - 3:44 pm

Fr Jerry Martinson (CHN) reflects on the subtleties of learning and integrating into a different culture as a Catholic television program producer. Read more. . .

Jesuits Gather at SIGNIS World Assembly in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Submitted on December 19, 2009 - 3:48 pm

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.

A Guide to Buddhist Temples in China

Submitted on December 19, 2009 - 4:09 pm

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

Submitted on December 19, 2009 - 4:15 pm

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.

Climate Conference in Copenhagen

Submitted on December 19, 2009 - 4:23 pm

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.

Overcoming barriers: Human mobility and development

Submitted on December 19, 2009 - 4:29 pm

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.

Education and Environment at APC

Submitted on December 19, 2009 - 4:38 pm

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.

Synergy of Friends in Indonesia

Submitted on December 19, 2009 - 4:44 pm

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.

Tertians on Christmas Ministries

Submitted on December 19, 2009 - 5:01 pm

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

EATEP on its 5th Program

Submitted on December 21, 2009 - 9:11 am

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.

Fu-Jen Students Among the Needy of Kolkata

Submitted on December 21, 2009 - 9:14 am

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

Loyola Partners with VNU

Submitted on December 21, 2009 - 9:21 am

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.