Snapshots

Ricci Anniversary
2010 marks the 400th Anniversary of the death of Matteo Ricci, the great Jesuit scholar and priest in China. The occasion will be marked by an exhibition on Ricci’s life in work that will travel to Nanjing and other mainland cities. The Ricci Institutes in Taiwan, Paris and Macao will organise symposia to mark the occasion. There will also be many editions of his writing and a website.

Beijing Centre
Fr Roberto Ribeira is the new director of The Beijing Centre. Originally from Brazil, he is a member of the Chinese Province. Under Fr Ron Anton, the Beijing Centre has developed many programs and connections with Chinese teachers which Roberto will build upon. The centre also has built up a splendid library.

Travelling to school
The Driyarkara School of Philosophy in Yogyakarta welcomed six scholastics from Myanmar and four from Thailand in August. They will begin their philosophical studies there. After taking vows, three East Timorese scholastics have travelled from Singapore to Arrupe Residence in Manila to begin their studies.

Catholic Asian News
Australian Jesuit Michael Kelly is the new director of UCA News (Union of Catholic Asian News), the Asian Catholic News Agency centred in Bangkok. The Maryknoll Agency, founded and run by Maryknoll missionary Fr Robert Astorino, is one of the most important Catholic news agencies in the world. You can subscribe to its daily news service, CathNews Asia at www.cathnewsasia.com.

Fr General’s travels
Fr Adolfo Nicolás tracked the footsteps of the early Jesuits, and also visited old friends earlier in the year. He came to help celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Philippines and Indonesian Provinces. His journey included a home-coming to the East Asian Pastoral Institute. The major superiors of the Assistancy, who came to Indonesia for their half-yearly meeting, joined the celebrations.