By deeds and words
27 Mar 2013

By deeds and words

by | posted in: Social Justice | 0

From his very first words as Bishop of Rome, our new Pope Francis revealed a gracious respect for the religious belief, freedom of conscience and dignity of each person – values and behaviour so essential for Christians in Asia Pacific.  His first blessing was a simple, modest acknowledgement of the conscience of each person:  “Since many of you are not members of the Catholic Church, and others are not believers, I cordially give this blessing silently, to each of you, respecting the conscience of each, but in the knowledge that each of you is a child of God.

Challenging times for the Myanmar Mission
27 Mar 2013

Challenging times for the Myanmar Mission

by | posted in: Social Justice | 0

Many may have thought the battle won when Aung San Suu Kyi was free to appear in public, when hundreds of political prisoners were released, when dissidents were free to return home from exile abroad, when censorship and sanctions were lifted, when elections were held, and as parliament sits to draft a new constitution.  In reality the work of rebuilding Myanmar is just beginning. 

Teacher turns builder to realise education dream
23 Mar 2013

Teacher turns builder to realise education dream

by | posted in: Education, Social Justice | 0

An academic in charge of a large-scale construction project? Australian Jesuit Fr Quyen Vu SJ doesn’t understand how it happened either.  “Yes, I laugh about my new role sometimes. I am now immersed in building construction,” he says.

This eight-hectare site in the Kasait in Timor-Leste is being transformed into the new St Ignatius of Loyola Kasait under Fr Quyen’s watch as the vice-principal of the new Jesuit school.

Jesuit university proposed in Hong Kong
22 Feb 2013

Jesuit university proposed in Hong Kong

by | posted in: Education, Social Justice | 0

Plans for a Jesuit Liberal Arts College (JLAC) in Hong Kong reached a new level in January with the convening of a two-day inaugural College Board of Trustees meeting. The trustees gathered in Hong Kong to discuss the academic and strategic planning of the JLAC and visit the Queen’s Hill site, where the Jesuits hope to locate the university.

Planting trees at the Killing Fields
22 Feb 2013

Planting trees at the Killing Fields

by | posted in: Social Justice | 0

On January 27, Buddhists, Christians, and Muslims, both foreigners and Khmer, gathered together at Choeung Ek, otherwise known as the Killing Fields of Cambodia, to remember and pray for the thousands of innocent Cambodians who were executed there under the Khmer Rouge regime.  The remembrance of the genocide victims that afternoon was part of the commemoration of World Interfaith Harmony Week, which concluded with the planting of several trees within Choeung Ek.

On Global Ignatian Advocacy Networks
22 Feb 2013

On Global Ignatian Advocacy Networks

by | posted in: Education, Migration, Social Justice | 0

The Social Justice and Ecology Secretariat has released “Promotio Iustitiae no.110”, a document dedicated to the Global Ignatian Advocacy Networks, which are centred on five areas – Ecology, Right to Education, Management of Natural Resources and Minerals, Migration, and Peace and Human Rights.  “Promotio Iustitiae no.110” provides an introduction to the networks, a theological grounding for Ignatian advocacy, a possible model of collaboration, and position documents on each network, including objectives, and plans for future action.

JCAP Report – January 2013
28 Jan 2013

JCAP Report – January 2013

by | posted in: Education, International Works, JCAP News, Migration, Social Justice | 0

If the JCAP major superiors needed a reminder of the extent of and differences in our Conference, the last two locations for our biannual meeting certainly provided that.   The island Republic of Palau, population 20,600, is a vastly different locale from that of our previous assembly held last July in Macau, a part of China, population over 1.4 billion.