News Service - Archive 2004

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Latest News 2005

Belgian Jesuit missionary and Indian theologian Jacques Dupuis died at 81 in Rome

Rome, 28 December 2004 – Belgian Jesuit missionary and Indian theologian Jacques Dupuis died suddenly this morning at the Umberto I Hospital in Rome. Dupuis was 81. He was emeritus professor of Dogmatic Theology at the Gregoriana University and author of many theological books and articles. For years he was a missionary in Calcutta. He was professor at several universities and formation centres in India and became well known while he advocated interreligious dialogue to help Hindus and Christians better understand their own religions.

"In my 36 years of teaching and research in Theology, the one truth that I have learnt is that there is no monopoly of Truth", he said last year at a gathering of priests, nuns and seminarians in Kolkata, India, reviewing his life. While engaging in interreligious dialogue, Christians should be ready not only to "give out the good word", but also to receive it. "Such a dialogue is necessary for a greater conversion of both the sides to their respective religions... I can integrate certain aspects of other faiths into my faith to understand it better", he explained.

A couple of years ago his book "Towards a Christian Theology of Religious Pluralism" was censured as 'erroneous' by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith. "The Congregation also sent me a set of questions about the book which I replied to. But it took them nearly 10 months to take a decision. I think the reason I was targeted was because through me, the Congregation was targeting Oriental theologians and Asian Theology," Dupuis explained.

Australian Jesuit speaks on Religious Freedom at Vatican conference

Rome, 5 December 2005 - Australian Jesuit, Father Daniel Madigan, described religious freedom as intrinsically connected to all other human rights at a US Embassy-sponsored conference at the Vatican.

The event - The Holy See and Contemporary Challenges to Religious Freedom - was held on Friday at Rome´s Gregorian University on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the Holy See and the United States. Fr Madigan, director of the Institute for the Study of Religions and Culture at Rome´s Gregorian University, spoke of the need to take a holistic approach to promoting the dignity and human rights of all people. He told the conference that many conflicts that seem to have a religious root are, in fact, conflicts in which religious differences are manipulated to defend economic or political power.

In addition, he said, "the global political situation, in its current critical state, is also played out on a local level" with some Christian communities suffering because of what some Muslim communities view as a global Christian offensive against Islam. “If religious freedom is intrinsically connected to all other human rights, he said, then those who want to promote religious liberty must also promote the other rights that are inherent to human dignity. “An international economic order that does not value the dignity of the human person more than "unbridled profit" cannot contribute to increased religious freedom”, Father Madigan said. And, he said, "we cannot expect that international relations not built on mutual respect, dialogue and consensus will ever contribute to the spread of religious freedom."

Jesuit Pre-program ['magis] for World Youth Day 2005 to reach 3,000 young adults

Frankfurt/Main, November 30 2004 - Ten months before the start of World Youth Day 2005, the largest meeting of the Roman Catholic Church ever in Germany, plans for an Ignatian pre-program are taking shape. In an international conference in Frankfurt, delegates of the Jesuit order and its Ignatian cooperating partners announced that they are inviting 3,000 young adults from all over the world for a week long program based on Ignatian spirituality.

During the conference the 30 participants from 22 countries met at St.Georgen, a Jesuit school of philosophy and theology. Delegates coming from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungaria, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Lebanon, Luxemburg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain arranged for the number of participants who would attend from approximately 40 countries.

The Ignatian project for World Youth Day combines elements of pilgrimage and group retreat and takes the Latin term "magis" ("more") as its motto. This term stands for the goal of the project, to live more closely with God. The 3,000 participants will arrive in 12 different cities. Divided into 100 groups, they will engage in social, creative or pilgrimage experiments. The project will culminate in a celebration on the famous rocks of the Loreley near the Rhine. There, the general superior of the Jesuits, Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J. and the local bishop of Limburg, Dr. Franz Kamphaus, will join them for Mass. Finally, the participants will go by ship down the Rhine to Cologne, where the official program of World Youth Day will begin.

During the conference, the provincial of the German Jesuit province, Fr. Stefan Dartmann, S.J. confirmed his support for international collaboration among Jesuits and their cooperating partners. For him the project for World Youth Day represents an excellent example of such collaboration. The Jesuits, with more than 20,000 members the largest order in the Roman Catholic Church, are striving to keep attuned to the pastoral needs of youth now and into the future.

Project coordinator Fr. Ludger Joos, S.J. has succeeded in obtaining a large grant from a prestigious foundation, the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach-Stiftung. Yet, the organizers continue to seek more financial support from donors and sponsors, so that more young people from Eastern European and developing countries can participate.

More information about the ['magis]-project for World Youth Day available:
www.magis2005.de.

Dutch Jesuit Province acquires a copy of Peter Canisius’ first catechism

At the end of April 1555 34-year-old Dutch Jesuit Peter Canisius had his famous catechism published in Vienna, at the request of King Ferdinand of Austria. This book, of which three different versions were printed, became one of the most succesful religious bestsellers in Church history, and it definitely was the most frequently issued publication by a Dutch author ever. Recent research has come up with 1075 different editions in 26 different languages.

In order to celebrate the 450th anniversary of this catechism Museum Het Valkhof in Canisius’ hometown Nijmegen, The Netherlands, is planning an exhibition that will be held from February 26 through May 22, 2005. During the preparations for this exhibition it was possible for the Dutch Jesuit Province to acquire a copy of this catechism from 1555. In that year Michael Zimmermann in Vienna printed two editions, that are almost identical except for two illustrations. Of the first edition 33 copies are known, kept in libraries all over Europe, of the second edition only 13 copies have been preserved, to which the ‘Dutch’ copy can be added now.

The newly acquired copy of the catechism is the only copy to be found in The Netherlands. It still has its original calf binding, with ornately blind-tooled decoration showing the emblems for CHARITAS, SPES and FIDES, and bronze clasps. Unfortunately the title page is missing. Its first owner wrote his name on the endpaper: ‘Gallus Horlinger me possidet’ (G.H. owns me) and mentioned the prize for which he bought the book: ’16 white pounds’. On one of the first pages an owner from the eigteenth century indicated that he knew the author of this anonymously published book: 'Hic liber est P. Petri Canisii S.J.'
A book on the history of the catechism by Peter Canisius will be published by Dutch Jesuit Paul Begheyn, who is also the guest curator of the exhibition.

Sacred relics of Francis Xavier exposed to the public in Goa

Old Goa, 21 November 2004 (Daijiworld) – The 16th solemn exposition of the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier began at Old Goa, 9 kms away from Panaji on Sunday morning. After the morning Mass at 9.30 a.m., the sacred relics were brought to Se Cathedral Church in a procession which was participated by around 500 clergy and thousands of devotees.

Archbishop Patriarch Reverend Filipe Neri Ferrao was the main celebrant of the Pontifical Mass at 9.30 a.m marking the inauguration of the 43-day event. The theme for this Exposition is: As fellow pilgrims, nourished by the Eucharist, sent to build Communion. Over 400 priests concelebrated this mass held in the outdoor pandal Basilica of Bom Jesus church.

A Jesuit missionary known for his zeal, St Xavier's remains were brought to Goa in 1554. Packaged in the silver casket with transparent glass closure, it was earlier called `body' and now sacred relics. After he died on the Sancian island (off the Chinese mainland), St Xavier's body was recovered in what the church calls "a miraculous state of preservation," and brought to Goa. Canonized as a saint in 1622, his body was exposed to public viewing once a year on December 3, but the practice was abandoned for 37 years after 1707. The practice was revived in 1782 to rule out the rumours that the body had been taken away by the Jesuits. There have been regular decennial expositions since 1974.

According to Church spokesman Fr Olavo Velho Pereira, Church authorities have put up their best to ensure that exposition is held in real spiritual atmosphere.

First centenary of the birth of theologian B. Lonergan SJ at Gregoria, Rome

Rome, 17 November 2004 – “Lonergan, theologised keeping in mind the history of the past with new insights of today from the daily experiences of the common person. Bernard was a philosopher, theologian and a methodologist, who has a lot to offer us today to make this world a better place to live. ‘Knowing begins first with love’ was his guiding factor in his search for method in theology where he used Ignatian experiences extensively to make theology more practicable”, said Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini on the occasion of birth centenary of Canadian Jesuit, Bernard Lonergan, at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome.

Cardinal Martini inaugurated this international conference speaking on the topic “Bernard Lonergan and pastoral commitment” and spoke recalling his pastoral experiences in Milan as Archbishop, and as a colleague of Lonergan at Gregorian during their career as professors. Mr. Donald W.Smith, Ambassador of Canada to the Holy See and P.Federico Lombardi SJ, Director of Vatican Radio Programmes spoke on Longergan, highlighting his contribution to the church and to the world through theological insights.

Lonergan was born in 1904, at Buckingham in Quebec (Canada). He entered the Society of Jesus in 1922, and in 1933 he came to Gregorian University to study theology. His doctoral thesis dealt with operative grace in Thomas Aquinas. Before coming to Gregorian as professor of systematic theology in 1953, he taught in Canada. That same year he published his famous book Insight. In 1965, he had to return to his home land due to illness but remained active in writing, and produced a lot of theological literature. The findings of his massive and seminal studies are summarized in Philosophy of God, and Theology (1973) and Understanding and Being (1980). His other interests in theology and the history of ideas were explored in occasional papers, assembled in his Collections (1967, 1974, 1985). He participated at the first session of the Second Vatican Council. He died in 1984. His writings on method in theology made him known especially in the Anglo-Saxon world and even today he is a most wanted theologian. The University of Toronto Press is currently publishing collected works of Bernard Lonergan in 21 volumes. (OV)

Jesuit theologian Bernard Lonergan honoured at Gregorian, Rome

Rome, 16 November 2004 – At the occasion of Bernard Lonergan's centenary the Pontifical University Gregoriana in Rome is organizing, 17-19 November, a three day international conference on the great Canadian Jesuit philosopher and theologian. Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini will open the conference with a talk on 'Bernard Lonergan e l'impegno pastorale'.

Lonergan was born in Buckingham, Quebec, SE Canada. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1922, and was appointed professor of systematic theology at the Gregorian University, Rome (1954-65). The findings of his massive and seminal studies are summarized in Philosophy of God, and Theology (1973) and Understanding and Being (1980). His other interests in theology and the history of ideas were explored in occasional papers, assembled in his Collections (1967, 1974, 1985). He participated at the first session of the Second Vatican Council. He died in 1984. His writings on method in theology made him known especially in the Anglo-Saxon world and even today he is a most wanted theologian. (OV)

Download the programme of the Conference

More about Lonergan at www.lonergan.on.ca

New Provincial appointed for Jesuits in Hungary

Budapest, 12 November 2004 – In his letter dated 29 October 2004 Father General has appointed János Lukács as new Provincial for the Jesuit Province in Hungary. Fr Lukács succeeds Fr Ervin Nemesszeghy and will take office on 2 February 2005.

The newly appointed Provincial is 38. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1991 and was ordained priest in 1998. At present he is the master of novices at Szeged and serves also as webmaster of the Hungarian Jesuit website.

According to the most recent statistics the Hungarian Province numbers 123 members, among them 83 priests, 12 brothers, 22 scholastics and 5 novices.

More: Hungarian Province website

Jesuit Provincial comments on JRS work with illegal immigrants in Malta

Valetta, Malta, 10 November 2004 (Times of Malta) - In a reaction to comments on the role of the Jesuit Refugee Service in Malta vis-à-vis illegal immigrants, the Maltese Jesuit Provincial, Paul Chetcuti, explained that for more than twenty years working with refugees is one of the priorities of Jesuits on a global level. "When JRS Malta was established 12 years ago, there was no organisation that offered legal aid to asylum seekers who were seeking refugee status and the JRS sought to fill this void", he said.

The JRS offered a social worker service at detention camps and within the community as well as pastoral and spiritual help to detained asylum seekers, he added. The JRS worked to get unaccompanied minors out of detention camps. It was not the first time that Jesuit homes took in refugees while their children were allowed to study at the Jesuit college. Jesuit communities also helped refugees pay their rent.

At the same time, Fr Chetcuti said, the Jesuits believed that a solution could only be found through agreements and solidarity, both on a national and international level. He said anybody who instilled the seeds of racism would be creating bigger problems for Maltese society. "A solution can only be found through the proper respect for the dignity and rights of individuals, irrespective of their race," he said.

Irish Jesuit Provincial gets Honorary Doctorate from University College Dublin

Dublin, 7 November 2004 (LayJay) - The Irish Jesuit Provincial, Fr John Dardis, got an honorary doctorate from University College, Dublin on Wednesday 3 November 2004. On this occasion Dardis made the following statement:

"I am delighted to accept this honorary doctorate from University College, Dublin. I do so in my capacity as provincial of the Irish Jesuits and in the name of all my fellow-Jesuits who have been associated with the college as students and teachers over the past 150 years, since its genesis in the old Catholic University founded on St Stephen's Green by John Henry Newman. [...]

Ignatius and the earliest Jesuits were indelibly marked by the humanism and academic values of the Renaissance age to which they belonged. This, along with their constant quest to `find God in all things', in Ignatius's celebrated phrase, has been their legacy to the Jesuit generations who have followed them. Hence the engagement with contemporary culture in all its manifestations and the commitment to participate in the crucial dialogue between that culture and religious faith. The association of Irish Jesuits with UCD throughout its distinguished history has been part of this engagement. In an age when religious fundamentalism, on the one hand, and secularism on the other, seem to be on the increase in western societies, including our own, and when divisions between religious believers are in danger of being exploited to the detriment of peace and justice, as well as of religion itself, we wish to be more committed than ever to making the fullest possible contribution to public discourse in Ireland.

In particular, we feel that our continued involvement in and contribution to the excellence of research and scholarship demanded at third level is of vital importance. With recent legislative changes, it has become possible for theology to be taught in the university context. It has recently been announced that the Milltown Institute, where Jesuits work alongside religious and lay colleagues and where we are joint trustees, has applied to become a Recognised College of the National University of Ireland. We are passionately committed to a theology and philosophy which can take their place in the marketplace of contemporary ideas, as Ireland searches for its identity in the 21th century, and I warmly welcome this development. I believe that it will be fruitful both for theology and for academic discourse within the university. I hope that it will enable Jesuits to contribute to third level education today in a way comparable to what our predecessors did in previous generations.

We are proud of the contribution the Society has made to University College Dublin and so, as the honour you confer on us today through me demonstrates, are you. I salute my Jesuit colleagues, who have studied in your halls and served your institution down through the generations, and, in their name, I want to thank you for this honour and commit the Society to carry our mission forward into a new century."

70 new Jesuit Novices – 14 less than last year – for the whole of Europe

Brussels, 29 October 2004 - For the whole of the 29 Jesuit Provinces and Regions in Europe 70 new novices enter the Society of Jesus in 2004. Last year at the same time they were 84. On the other hand the number of those who finish their noviciate and take first vows is the same as last year: they are 52 to continue their formation.

More then in the previous years Poland is the frontrunner in getting vocations. Both Provinces take almost one third of all new European novices: 13 in the Greater Poland Province and 7 in the South Poland Province. In addition to the "European" Provinces, the Near East Province (Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey), also belonging to the European Jesuit Conference, has 2 new novices.

Besides the 70 new novices, there are for the whole of Europe 67 novices who start the second year. 52 novices took their first vows.

Table "Novices in Europe 2004"
Download it in .pdf format

Jesuits to become more aware of common European mission – President

Naples, Italy, 24 October 2004 – In his opening address to the General Assembly of the Conference of European Jesuit Provincials (CEP) today, the President, Belgian Jesuit Mark Rotsaert, pleaded for a better understanding of a "common European mission" among the Jesuits in Europe. "I am afraid that we will not be able to prepare the future if we remain prisoners of the borders of our Provinces and of our countries", he said.

The 10th General Assembly of the CEP gathers major superiors not only from the 25 member states and the candidates states of the European Union, but also those of the Russian Region, the Maghreb and the Near East. Altogether, Rotsaert stated, they have a common mission, not a political one but a religious one. They have to answer to these questions: 'What does evangelization mean in the Europe of the third millennium? Will Christianity survive in Europe?'. Although a lot of efforts have already been made, more collaboration between Jesuits and Jesuit Provinces in Europe is needed.

Main topic of the assembly is the urgent task of rationalization of the Centres of Jesuit Formation in Europe. "A new generation of young Jesuits is asking for more interprovincial and supraprovincial collaboration in Europe. The formation of our young Jesuits must prepare them for a common mission in Europe", Rotsaert said.

Part of that common mission is also the growing Jesuit involvement for refugees and migrants. A special task for on Migration is preparing a report for next year. The organization of a 'Social Week' last summer in Slovakia was already an important and positive experience.

The Conference of European Jesuit Provincials was created in 1972 when the then Superior General, Fr Pedro Arrupe, established the Committee of European Provincials. Today the Conference comprises 36 Major Superiors representing some 6,460 European Jesuits.

Six Christian organisations prompt EU to protect migrants

Brussels, 21 October 2004 - Six Christian organisations will present 12 recommendations for a fair and consistent EU Migration and Asylum Policy to the Ministers of the Justice and Home Affairs Council in Luxembourg from 25-26 October 2004.

The six organisations – Caritas Europa, the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME), the Secretariat of the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE), the International Catholic Migration Commission, the Jesuit Refugee Service Europe (JRS) and the Quaker Council for European Affairs - argue that the 12 recommendations should be incorporated into EU asylum and migration policy in order to protect the human rights of migrants and refugees.

The six organisations recommend that EU Migration and Asylum policy should provide a framework for the regularisation of irregular migrants, the recognition of family reunification as a fundamental right, a common approach to integration policy, and a modified return and readmission policy. They urge the member states to ratify the international convention on migrants’ rights adopted in the United Nations in 1990. Combating trafficking in human beings should constitute a specific policy and also seek to offer long-term perspectives to the victims. A common and coherent asylum system must guarantee high standards for refugees. Asylum seekers and refugees should have access to a full asylum determination procedure, which should be in compliance with the rule of law. Refugees should be guaranteed a protected status during their asylum application and be admitted access to the labour market.

The organisations call upon the Ministers as they prepare the next multi-annual programme in Justice and Home Affairs, to seriously consider these 12 recommendations. They are based upon the inalienable dignity of human beings. They aim to highlight the economic, social and cultural benefits of migration for society. Security threats must not contravene the crucial principle which underpins this policy area.

Full text of 12 Recommendations: English - Français - Deutsch

Pierre de Charentenay to be appointed new editor for French review Etudes

Paris, 19 October 2004 – On 1 November Pierre de Charentenay (61) will succeed to Henri Madelin as editor of the Jesuit run review "Etudes". The appointement has been announced by Fr François-Xavier Dumortier, the Jesuit Provincial of France, in a letter to the communities.

For nine years Henri Madelin accomplished a remarkable work, the Provincial said. Now he will be replaced by Pierre de Charentenay, former Director of OCIPE, the Catholic European Study and Information Centre run by Jesuits in Brussels. He has a long international experience and a large journalistic competence. Last year he was visiting professor at Fordham University, New York.

"Etudes", a review for "today culture", started in 1856 and has become a reference and a formation instrument. It has a circulation of 14.000 copies.

Heythrop Institute for Religion, Ethics and Public Life officially launched

London, 4 October 2004 - The Heythrop Institute for Religion, Ethics and Public Life was officially launched on Thursday 30 September, with an appeal for Catholics to become more involved in politics and engaged in the democratic process, and thereby become more active in human rights.

The call came from Professor Conor Gearty (photo), the Director of the Centre for the Study of Human Rights at the London School of Economics. He delivered his address in the presence of Archbishop Peter Smith of Cardiff (who is the bishops' representative on ethical issues), Bishop Bernard Longley of Westminster, the British Jesuit Provincial, Fr David Smolira SJ, and the Principal of Heythrop College, Dr John McDade SJ.

In his talk, Prof Gearty praised the work of Non-Government Organisations, which are energised and motivated by UN Charters and legislation, calling their work 'one of the great civilising triumphs of the past twenty years.' And he appealed for more people around the world to be given access to democracy and to be treated with equality.

Earlier, the Director of the new Institute, Dr James Hanvey SJ, said the Church had 'an extraordinary opportunity' in the current social climate in which people are searching for meaning. 'It demands of us a creative and imaginative effort no less than that faced by the Church in the 3rd and 4th centuries. The task is twofold: how to find an effective voice in the public sphere and how to deepen our faith and understanding so that the practice of Christian life is nourished and secured.'

More: The Jesuits in Britain - Heythrop Institute for Religion, Ethics and Public Life

Africa remains top priority for European Jesuit Mission Offices and NGOs

Gent, 3 October 2004 – At their annual meeting twenty-four representatives of Jesuit mission offices and non-governmental organizations in Europe expressed their full and continuing support for Africa. They will give special attention to projects with AIDS/HIV people and with refugees.

Since a few years Africa and China are the two regional priorities proposed by Fr Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, Superior General of the Society of Jesus. At the annual meeting in Drongen, 1-3 October 2004, the representatives of Jesuit mission offices and non-governmental organizations in Europe focused their information sessions and discussions on Africa. They were introduced by Ambassador Jan Mutton, Belgium's Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region, and Fr Jean Ilboudo, assistant for Africa at the General Curia in Rome. At present there are some 1,460 Jesuits in Africa.

Fr Lluis Magriña, International Director of the Jesuit Refugee Service, recalled how Jesuits for almost twenty years are working with refugees and displaced people in Africa. Fr Michael Czerny presented a quite new kind of Jesuit apostolate initiated over two years ago by the Jesuit Conference of African Provincials, the African Jesuits AIDS Network (AJAN). "This network came into existence because Jesuits in Africa and Madagascar felt the need to respond as the Society of Jesus to HIV/AIDS. AJAN's mission is to encourage and help Jesuits and their colleagues, in the 32 countries of the continent where the Society of Jesus is present, to fight HIV/AIDS in whatever ways seem best", Czerny explained.

The refugee and the HIV/AIDS ministries as well as the more "classical" missionary activities in Africa may rely on the full and continuing support of the European Jesuit mission offices and NGOs.

Young Italian Jesuit wins prestigious film award

Brussels, 29 Sept 2004 – Giuseppe Zito, a young Italian Jesuit, won one the "Angelus Awards" for "deep audience impact", a prestigious student film contest based in Los Angeles. The short film "Melanzane e cioccolato" (Eggplant and Chocolate) was produced as his thesis for an M.F.A. in Film Production at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles. The award includes $2500 and the honour of screening the film at the DGA (Directors Guild of America) on October 23, as part of the award ceremony.

Zito is now a Theology student in Naples, Italy. "I hope to continue his work in the filmmaking world. There is a number of Jesuits around the globe involved in this field, convinced that the movies are the contemporary 'agora', where most of our culture is shaped and represented, a place where the Society and the Church cannot be left behind", Zito said.

Reject extreme feminism, Jesuit journal Civilta Cattolica urges

Rome, Sep. 21 (CWNews.com) - The Church does not reject modern feminism entirely, but some "radical forms of feminism" that deny the distinct and complementary roles of men and women. That is the theme of an article that appears in the current issue of the authoritative Jesuit journal, Civilta Cattolica .

"The Church does not condemn feminism as a whole, because she recognizes that its despite errors and exaggerations, feminism has allowed the recognition of woman's dignity and equality with man," Civilta Cattolica argues. But the article stresses that while men and women are equal in dignity, they are different in their sexual and psychological roles.

Civilta Cattolica-- whose articles are regarding as semi-official statements of Vatican opinion, since they are vetted in advance by the Secretariat of State-- says that feminism has made a noteworthy contribution to contemporary society by helping to overcome the forms of discrimination that were based on a belief that women are inferior. These unjust attitudes, the magazine observes, are "imposed by the egotism and arrogance of man."

However, the article rejects the "gender ideology" that denies any fundamental difference between men and women. In response to these errors, the Church must "reaffirm true anthropology," the article says.

"Gender ideology," Civilta Cattolica explains, is the belief that male and female character is determined by society, rather than innate in the sex. The proponents of gender ideology argue that each individual should be free to determine his own sexual role-- to be homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual, or transsexual.

Against this ideology, the article continues, the Church poses the Biblical perspective, realizing that only an accurate understanding of male and female character can "safeguard both the personal dignity of woman and her equality with man-- and, at the same time, her complementarity with man." This distinction between the sexes should be understood "not in terms of opposition and war, but in terms of communion and love," the Jesuit journal adds.

The growth of gender ideology undermines the basis for the family, the magazine observes. "Today, more than ever before, the familiy is attacked from all sides," Civilta Cattolica laments. And for this reason, too, the Church must attack the extreme versions of feminism.

Three new members appointed for EJIF's Coordination Committee

Brussels, 28 August 2004 - Fr Mark Rotsaert, President of the Conference of European Provincials, has appointed three new members of the Coordination Committee of EJIF, the European Jesuits in Formation, for the next two years.

 Pawel Adamczyk (South Poland) becomes the new chairman, Enric Puiggros (Cataluña) is the coordinator of the participants at the EJIF meetings, and Primoz Jakop (Slovenia) is in charge of the logistics.

They will be helped by the two members of the Committee members of this year, Christian Marte (Austria) for the finances, and Jan Regner (Czech Republic) for the communication.

New President of Jesuit Conference for East-Asia & Oceania

Manila, 12 August 2004 -- Fr Adolfo Nicolas, aged 68, assumes office this month as the President of the Jesuit Conference of East Asia and Oceania succeeding Fr Ismael Zuloaga, who has held this post for the past 12 years.

Born in Spain, Fr Nicolas came to Japan as a missionary 43 years ago. He made his studies in theology and taught at Sophia University in Tokyo. He was Director of the East Asian Pastoral Institute in Manila. He served as Provincial of the Japanese Jesuit Province, and has also lived for some periods in South Korea. During recent years he has been living and working with migrant communities on the outskirts of Tokyo.
During the last Jesuit General Congregation, an important international decision making assembly for the Jesuits, Fr Nicolas was elected as the Congregation's secretary, an acknowledgement both of his capacity and of the esteem with which he is regarded.

Forty-one young Jesuits together in Ireland for annual EJIF Summer Meeting

Dublin, 1 August 2004 – Forty-one Jesuits from twenty-five provinces, including two from the USA and one from Vietnam – are together at Clongowes Wood College in Ireland for the annual Summer Meeting of the "European Jesuits in Formation" (EJIF). The topic of the meeting is “Faces of Priesthood Today” and Fr James Hanvey SJ from Heythrop College, London, is the facilitator of the "Forum", the first part of this meeting.

As usually, the second part of the EJIF meeting will be the Ignatian retreat. It will take place from 4 to 12 August in Manresa House, Dublin. Afterwards there will be so called “Symposium” – at the Clongowes Wood College where delegates will elect three additional members for the EJIF Coordination Committee. They will also look out to World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne, Germany, where EJIF will actively take part.

More

New Jesuit Provincials take up office in Germany and Ireland

Brussel, 30 July 2004 – Tomorrow, feast of Saint Ignatius, founder of the Society of Jesus, two new Provincials take up office. Stefan Dartman becomes the first Provincial of the new unified German Province. John Dardis gets in charge of the Irish Province.

Stefan Dartmann (48) succeeds Bernd Franke and Franz Meures, who were provincial for Southern and Northern Germany respectively. The new unified province comprises 450 Jesuits and includes Germany, Denmark and Sweden. Up to last year Dartmann was parish priest of St Eugenia in Stockholm. More

John Dardis (48) becomes the new Provincial for the Irish Province. Since 2001 he was the Regional Director for Europe of the Jesuit Refugee Service, based in Brussels.
John Dardis was born in Dublin, 1956. The Irish Province newsletter LayJay describes how he has been “versatile in his ministry both in and outside of the Province, which makes him all the more suitable to undertake the very varied aspects of the works of the Irish Province and the universal Society in the Church”.

Indian Jesuit appointed director of Gregoriana's  Interdisciplinary Communications Centre


Bangalore, 27 July 2004 (Fides Service) - The appointment of Jesuit father from Patna in India, Fr Jacob Srampickal, as Director of the Interdisciplinary Communications Centre at Gregorian University in Rome, where he has been teaching for the past year, was warmly welcomed by Jesuits everywhere. It is seen as recognition for the tireless commitment of Indian Jesuits in social sciences and the science of communications.

Before being called to teach at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Fr Jacob worked for thirty years in the field of social communications in India. He is known throughout Asia and has been animator and delegate for Social Communications of the FABC, Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, and also served as an adviser to Catholic TV stations in India and Thailand. Fr Jacob Srampickal is also co-founder of Niscort Institute of Communications sponsored by the Indian Bishops’ Conference.

New Provincial appointed for Jesuits in Spain

Madrid, 20 July 2004 – Father General has appointed Fr Elías Royón Lara (67) as new Provincial of Spain. For the moment Fr Royon is Assistant to Fr General for Southern Europe. He succeeds Fr Isidro Gonzales Modroño and will take up his new office on 5 September 2004.

El P. General ha nombrado Provincial de España al P. Elías Royón Lara. El P. Royón entrará en cargo el próximo día 5 de septiembre.

The Jesuits in Spain have five provinces: Aragon, Andalusia and the Canary Islands (Betica), Castilla, Loyola and Catalunya. Together they number some 1.700 Jesuits.

More: Jesuitas en España

The Jesuit General Curia in Rome goes electronically

Rome, 1 July 2004 - Addressed to All Major Superiors, Father General has written a letter, dated June 21, on Reminders and Updates on Procedures. The aim of the letter is to clarify some points and to indicate ways to facilitate the solution of canonical problems related to the Holy See. For the first time the letter of Father General has been signed electronically. The Secretariat of the Society has announced that from now on the circular letters issued by the Curia will be sent only by electronic mail.

JRS Europe asks EU to address deep needs of refugees and asylum seekers

Brussels, 18 June 2004 – The European Union must address root causes and tackle irregular migration in a realistic way. Serious work on integration needed. These are the headlines of a press release issued by the European Office of the Jesuit Refugee Service on the occasion of World Refugee Day 2004.

For world refugee day 2004, JRS-Europe expresses concern about many aspects of EU asylum and immigration policy. Over the past years it has become more and more restrictive. What was initially meant to be ‘minimum standards’ in legislation have instead become minimal and governments tend not to go beyond them. As a Christian organisation JRS is in touch day by day with people in some of the poorest quarters of European cities and where some of the deepest tensions exist.

Therefore JRS-Europe appeals to governments, legislative bodies and international organizations in Europe

More information and full text of press release: www.jrseurope.org 

Spain: Provinces of Castilla and Toledo merge into "Castilla Province"

Madrid, 17 June 2004 – Tomorrow Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, Superior General of the Jesuits, will be present in Alcalá de Henares, Spain, to declare canonically established the new Jesuit Province of Castilla the result of the union of the former Toledo and Castilla Provinces. On the same date and in the same place, he will make the official appointment of Fr Joaquin Barrero as the new Provincial.

On June 18, feast of the Sacred Heart, the union of the Castilla and Toledo Provinces will become official. The new Province will be known as Castilla, a name deeply rooted in the Jesuit history of Spain. The new Province will have its headquarters in Madrid. In a letter addressed to the two present Provincials, Frs Joaquin Barrero and Alfredo Verdoy, Father General praises the process which has led to the union, approves the calendar submitted to him, and promises to attend the official act of the unification. To the new Province will belong 701 Jesuits with an average age of 66,8 years and 46,78 of life in the Society. Among the apostolic activities there are 18 schools, 3 universities, 11 parishes, 10 churches and 7 retreat houses. After the unification the Spanish Provinces will be five: Castilla, Andalusia and the Canary Islands, Loyola, Aragon and Tarragona.

Irish Jesuits call for immigration policy review

Dublin, 7 June 2004 (online.ie) -- The Jesuit Order has called on the Government to review immigration policy before reviewing the Constitution.

The Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice has said that the Government must learn to accept the children of non-nationals, many of whom were invited here to work. The Centre has called for a "No" vote in the referendum on citizenship as no effective policy on how to deal with asylum seekers and other immigrants has been put in place. "The Government has not demonstrated how this Constitutional change connects with any broader immigration legal framework," stated the Director of the Jesuit social research arm, Eugene Quinn.

Jesuit Magazine "America" wins 7 awards at Catholic Press Association meeting

New York, 31 May 2004 -- The Jesuit magazine "America" received seven awards at the Catholic Press Association Meeting. The winners of the 2004 Catholic Press Awards were announced on Friday, May 28, 2004 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC at the Catholic Press Association Annual Convention. America won the following awards: best editorial, best regular column,best illustration, either with art work or photo, best interview, best review, best essay, and Archbishop Edward T. O'Meara Award for single article with worldwide missionary theme.

America is a weekly magazine founded by Jesuits of the United States in 1909. America is a member of the Catholic Press Association. The present editor is Thomas J. Reese, S.J.

Gregoriana: Presentation of book in honour of Jesuit Theologian Jared Wicks 

Rome, 27 May 2004 - “Sapere teologico e unità della fede” is the title of the book which was presented today at the Gregoriana University in honour of Jesuit Jared Wicks of Detroit Province, who has taught insistently at the faculty of theology for the past 25 years. In June 2004 he will turn to 75 and to mark this occasion and to thank him for his relentless service in the field of Fundamental Theology, his colleagues, students and friends have brought out a book containing more than 700 pages (725 pages to be exact) which includes biographical notes and publications of Wicks and 33 other articles written by his colleagues and friends.

Wicks is considered as “among the most appreciated and illuminating publications produced by a contemporary author in his field of research” writes R. Fisichella, an auxiliary bishop to the Diocese of Rome. He is well known in the field of Fundamental Theology and as an expert on “Luther” and his keen interest and his research on Second Vatican Council has made him one of the few specialists in the area of ecumenism. Moreover his forty years of service in the field of Theology as a professor, researcher and theologian has made him one of the stalwarts at the Gregorian and will leave behind “legacy of Wicks”, as he returns back to his home US.

“I never try to tell the Lutherans what Luther meant, but sometimes I can remind them of what Luther said” says Wicks with a passion for ecumenism and optimism.

Wicks was born in Columbus, US on19th June 1929. In 1949 he entered the Society of Jesus and in 1967, he obtained his doctorate in Theology from the Münster Catholic University on the “Spirituality of Luther’s early works”. After taking up several teaching assignments in US and in Sudan he came to Gregorian in 1979. Since then apart from teaching he took up administrative works including as “Dean of the Faculty of Theology” and “Director of the Department of Fundamental Theology”. He also has served in various pontifical councils including as a consulter of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity and still continues to do so. [OV]

JRS supports campaign to stop the use of child soldiers

Rome, 18 May 2004 - The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, of which the Jesuit Refugee Service is a leading member, launched a campaign, on 4 May, to ensure the implementation of EU Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict, adopted in December 2003 by the European Foreign Ministers. It is asking potential voters and organisations to send letters to those seeking election, in June 2004, to the European Parliament and their national parties. National Coalition organisations will be asked to follow up these letters with further requests to meet and explain the importance of creating a Special Envoy on Children and Armed Conflict.

The objective of the campaign is to ensure attention is paid to the rights of children affected by armed conflict, to ensure that EU MEPS hold the EU Council and Commission accountable for the implementation of the EU Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict and to support the appointment of a Special Representative.

Past experience shows that without a senior figure providing leadership on the issue, the EU Guidelines risk becoming just another commitment that fails to help children caught up in war. The Coalition believes that the only effective way such guidelines will be implemented is if there is an EU Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict to prioritise the issue.

For further information: www.child-soldiers.org
Casey Kelso, Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers at info@child-soldiers.org.

Fr Frantisek Hylmar takes office as Provincial for Jesuits of Czech Republic

Prague, 16 May 2004 – The Bohemian Province has a new provincial. Fr Frantisek Hylmar, 46, appointed by Father General on 1 March, took office as a Provincial of the Jesuits of the Czech Republic 16 May.

Frantisek Hylmar was born on 12th September 1957. He studied Geodesy before joining the Society. On 7th September 1989, he entered the Society of Jesus (just two months before the revolution). After the novitiate in Hostyn, he studied philosophy in Krakow and theology in Dublin. He was ordained priest on 25th March 1998 and then worked in the university chaplaincy in Olomouc. After that, he did his licence of spiritual theology in Madrid and then tertianship in Mexico. He took his final vows on 3rd October 2002 (in presence of Fr General Peter-Hans Kolvenbach) in St Ignatius Church in Prague. Then, he worked as Superior of Prague Jesuit community and Rector of St Ignatius Church.

The Bohemian Province numbers 89 Jesuits. Among them, there are 68 priests, 14 scholastics, 7 brothers and 3 novices. 14 years after the communism, the biggest concern of the Province is recently the reconstruction of “normal” structure of Jesuit communities, the pastoral work with young people especially with university students and the dialog between Faith and Culture.

Expulsados de su tierra: JRS Spain on Internally Displaced Persons

Brussels, 28 April 2004 -- Jesuit Refugee Service Spain has published recently a book on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) around the world, named "Expulsados de su tierra" (Expelled from their own land"). The book introduced by JRS International director, Lluis Magriña SJ, and written by JRS Spain information officer, Carles Casals, explains how IDPs do live, why they did become displaced people and what both the local and international communities are doing to ease their harsh living conditions.

The second part of the book talks specifically about Colombia, a country with more than 2 million IDPs, which was visited by the author in 2002. "This book aims to break the international indifference to this issue. And breaking indifference is the first step to begin to solve any problem", he said.

Title: "Expulsados de su tierra". Author: Carles Casals / JRS-Spain
Editorial: Milenio, 134 pages, 2004.
...For more information, please contact JRS-Spain: spain@jrs.net 

Dutch Jesuit Jan Stuyt new Regional Director for JRS Europe

Brussels, 24 April 2004 – Fr Mark Rotsaert, President of the Conference of European Provincials, has appointed Fr Jan Stuyt as new Regional Director for Europe of the Jesuit Refugee Service. Stuyt will succeed to the present Director, John Dardis, who has been appointed Provincial of Ireland.

Jan Stuyt is born in the Netherlands in 1950. He studied civil law at the State University of Leiden and theology in Amsterdam and Rome. He joined the Society of Jesus in 1976 and was ordained priest in 1983. He did pastoral work in the Netherlands from 1983 till 1988 and from 1994 till 2003. From 1988 till 1993 he was with JRS as a legal advisor and a pastoral worker in Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong and in former Yugoslavia. He will take up his new assignment next July.

JRS Europe Director John Dardis appointed Provincial for Ireland (updated)

Dublin/Brussels, 23 April 2004 – Father General has appointed Fr John Dardis to be the new Provincial for the Irish Province. At present Dardis is the Regional Director for Europe of the Jesuit Refugee Service, based in Brussels. He will take up office in the late summer.

John Dardis was born in Dublin, 1956. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1974, was ordained in 1987 and took final vows in 1998. He studied Communications and was the first Director of the Jesuit Communication Centre in Dublin. The Irish Province newsletter LayJay describes how the new appointed Provincial has been “versatile in his ministry both in and outside of the Province, which makes him all the more suitable to undertake the very varied aspects of the works of the Irish Province and the universal Society in the Church”.

In a letter to the Province Father General writes: “Please extend my thanks and encouragement to Fr Dardis as he prepares to assume this very important service to the universal Society and to his Jesuit brethren and to all lay colleagues in the Irish Province and its apostolates”.

Dutch Jesuit Jan Stuyt will succeed to John Dardis at the head of the Regional Office of JRS Europe. Stuyt, 53, has already a long experience with refugee work in South East Asia, Eastern Europe and the Netherlands.

New Rector appointed for Germanicum in Rome

München, 5 April 2004 – Fr Franz Meures, at present the Provincial of Northern Germany, has been appointed as new Rector of the "Pontificium Collegium Germanicum et Hungaricum" in Rome by the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Fr Peter-Hans Kolvenbach. Fr Meures, 52, will succeed Austrian Jesuit Gerwin Komma and take office in January 2005.

The "Germanicum," as it's generally known, was the initiative of Ignatius of Loyola, who asked Pope Julius III to open a centre in Rome to train future priests coming from the Holy Roman Empire. From the beginning the management and the spiritual guidance was put under the care of the Jesuits. At the moment, there are some eighty students from 45 different dioceses of Central and Eastern Europe.

Italian Jesuit Gianfranco Ghirlanda new Rector of Gregorian University

Rome, 1 April 2004 - Pope John Paul II has appointed Italian Jesuit Gianfranco Ghirlanda as new Rector of the "Pontificia Università Gregoriana". Fr Ghirlanda is 61 and at present the Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law. He is also consulter of several Vatican congregations and institutions, including the important congregations for the Doctrine of Faith, for the Bishops, the Clergy and the Evangelization of Peoples.

Fr Ghirlanda succeeds Fr Franco Imoda, Rector since 1998. He will take office on 1 September 2004.

New Jesuit Secretary for the Christian Life Community worldwide

Rome, 31 March 2004 -- In a letter to All Major Superiors dated March 25, Father General announced that Fr. Alberto Teixeira de Brito, of the Portuguese Province, will be the new Jesuit Secretary for the Christian Life Community (CLC) and the Vice-Ecclesiastical Assistant for world-wide CLC. Fr. Teixeira succeeds Fr. Fernando Salas Cruchaga , of the Chile Province, who has served the CLC in this capacity since 1998.

The Christian Life Community is an international association of Christians: men and women, adults and young people, of all social conditions, who want to follow Jesus Christ more closely and work with Him for the building of the Kingdom. Members make up small groups, which are part of larger communities organised regionally and nationally, all forming ONE World Community. The CLC is present in all five continents, in almost sixty countries.

The charism and spirituality of CLC are Ignatian. Thus, the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius are both the specific source of our charism and the characteristic instrument of CLC spirituality. The CLC way of life is shaped by the features of Ignatian Christology: austere and simple, in solidarity with the poor and the outcasts of society, integrating contemplation and action, in all things living lives of love and service within the Church, always in a spirit of discernment.

Popoli brings dossier on the Jesuit Refugee Service

Milano, Italy, 30 March 2004 -- The April issue of the Italian Jesuit magazine "Popoli" brings a dossier about the "Jesuit Refugee Service" and gives a good overview of what JRS has done since it has been founded by Pedro Arrupe in 1980 and is doing today.

More than 500 Jesuits, other religious men and women, and lay partners are involved full time worldwide. The dossier analyses their motivation and draws up the balance sheet of their activities.

Eighty participants start a seven-day Consultation on Spiritual Exercises

Rome, 21 March 2004 – Eighty Jesuits, religious and lay people participate in the annual "Rome Consultation", which is held at the Residenza DeLaSalle in Rome, 21-27 March. It will be historically the first world-wide meeting of the directors from the 250 Jesuit retreat houses and centres.

The consultation is an annual event run by the Secretariat of Ignatian Spirituality, under the direction of Fr Joseph A. Tetlow, S.J. Participants are directors (or major staff people) of Jesuit retreat houses and centres. They will discuss the purposes and functioning of Jesuit-sponsored houses and centres.

The consultation's topic is "Christology and conversion in the practice of Spiritual Exercises in houses and centres." Major input comes from American Jesuit Fr Don Gelpi and from the experienced heads of various types of houses and centres on all five continents. This consultation will produce, interactively, the early outlines of a statement of the "Characteristics of a Jesuit-sponsored Retreat House and Centre." Past consultations produced the "Giving Exercises", a unique worldwide empirical survey of both practice and theory. Fr. General Kolvenbach, responding in part to the reports to the Procurators, believes the swift and worldwide development of this ministry calls for broad-based, collaborative reflection.

Jesuits support young film makers

Brussels, 17 March 2004 -- The Conference of European Jesuit Provincials is to be the patron of the Iñigo Award for short films in 2005. It is inviting filmmakers born in 1970 or later to submit entries which will be shown during the World Youth Days in Germany next year.

Announcing the Jesuits’ patronage, the President of the Conference of European Provincials, Fr Mark Rotsaert SJ, said he was delighted that the Society was supporting young filmmakers, and stated that the theme of the 2005 competition would be City of God.

“The films should reflect the spiritual yearnings and experiences of young people today, using the medium of film,” said Fr Rotsaert. “For example, we will welcome submissions that show the presence and absence of God in our modern secularised world; and as far as possible, films should aim to take into account the twin social dimensions of faith and justice.”

An Iñigo Award will be given to the three best short films. The prize-winning films—along with other outstanding entries in the competition—will be screened for the duration of the World Youth Days in Cologne, Germany, next summer. The Iñigo Award will be given on 19 August 2005 in Cologne by a representative of the General Curia of the Society of Jesus, Fr Tom Rochford, SJ, secretary of communication and media. The deadline for entries is 1 May 2005.

More information and application form are available on: www.inigo-award.org 

Spanish Jesuit Ladaria new Secretary-General of International Theological Commission

Rome, 9 March 2004 – Pope John Paul II appointed Spanish Jesuit Luis Ladaria as Secretary-General of the International Theological Commission. Ladaria is docent of dogmatic theology at the Gregorian University in Rome. He is replacing Cardinal Georges Cottier, the Papal Household theologian. Among the newly appointed members of the commission, there is another Jesuit, Fr John Michael McDermott, docent of dogmatic theology at the Josephinum College in Columbus, Ohio, USA.

The International Theological Commission, established by Pope Paul VI in 1969, is under the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The commission helps the Holy See examine doctrinal questions of major importance. The president of the commission is the prefect of the doctrinal congregation, currently Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. The commission comprises theologians of various schools and nations, eminent for their knowledge and fidelity to the magisterium. The members -- no more than 30 -- are appointed by the Pope for a five-year period. The prefect of the doctrinal congregation proposes the members after consulting with bishops' conferences. The commission meets in full assembly at least once a year, but it can also carry out its activity through subcommissions. The results of the studies are presented to the Holy Father and handed for their opportune use to the doctrinal congregation.

For the first time since its creation in 1969, the International Theological Commission will include two female members: Sister Sara Butler, who teaches systematic theology at St. Mary of the Lake in Chicago and Barbara Hallensleben, the dean of theology at the University of Freiberg, Switzerland.

Jesuit magazine "Popoli" joins celebration of International Women's Day

Milano, Italy, 8 March 2004 - In its March issue the Italian Jesuit magazine "Popoli" dedicates a wide space to the International Women's Day of 8 March. First of all, voice is given to religious women who work with African women. More and more they obviously get a more important and influential role in their local society. A second group are Muslim women with testimonies of Nobel Prize winner Shirin Ebadi, Jordanian Queen Rania and Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Finally two women theologians make their voice heard, the Catholic biblical researcher Maisa Milazzo and the Swiss pastor, Anne Zell.

Jesuit journal protests French law on religious symbols

Rome, 4 March 2004 (CWNews.com) - The Jesuit journal Civilta Cattolica has condemned as "unjust and excessive" a new French law banning the display of religious symbols.

An editorial in the Jesuit magazine-- which is regarded as semi-official organ of the Vatican, since all articles are reviewed in advance by the Secretariat of State-- charged that the French legislation "limits religious freedom for no reason."

The French Senate on March 3 passed the new legislation by an overwhelming vote of 276 to 20; the measure had passed the lower parliamentary house, the National Assembly, by a similarly lopsided vote in February.

Civilta Cattolica argued that if a student wishes to display his religious faith in a way that does not offend his neighbors or interfere with his work, the state has no legitimate interest in curtailing his right to do so. The new law, the magazine said, "transforms secularity-- which should be open and tolerant-- into secularism that is rather firm and intolerant."

The new French law is a response to a national furor over whether Muslim girls should be allowed to wear headscarves in school. Civilta Cattolica observes that this is a largely symbolic dispute, reflecting deeper tensions about the large and rapidly growing Islamic influence in France. "The law against the Islamic headscarf is not likely to help resolve the real problems of the Islamic community in France," the editorial warns.

Jesuits commemorate the 100th birthday of Karl Rahner

München, 4 March 2004 – German Jesuit Karl Rahner was born on 5 March 1904 and his 100th birthday is an opportunity to commemorate this great and influential philosopher and theologian. By innovative lectures, articles and books Rahner became one of the most important theologians of the 20th century. He was theological adviser at the Second Vatican Council, member of the International Theologian Commission in Rome, of the Faith Commission of the German Bishops' Conference and of the highest scientific committee in Germany, the "Ordens Pour le Mérite für Wissenschaft und Künste". Up to today, Rahner remains an estimated teacher and a reliable guide for many people.

These days conferences are taking place all over Germany, in Aachen, Karlsruhe, Ludwigshafen, München und at the Lateran University in Rome. Later this year other events will follow in Germany, Ireland, Austria and Switzerland.

More: www.jesuiten.org/karl.rahner

"Gregorianum" holds conference on Ignatian Pedagogy

Rome, 4 March 2004 - “Gregorianum”, the journal of the ‘Pontifical Gregorian University' run by the Jesuits has devoted the first issue of 2004 (85/1) on "At the sources of Ignatian Pedagogy". It contains articles of eminent Jesuits including P.H. Kolvenbach, Superior General of Jesuits.

The authors shed a great deal of light on the rich heritage of the Jesuits as ‘educators’ since the foundation of the Society of Jesus, 464 years ago and of the Roman College in 1551 as their first school of education. To mark this occasion a conference was held at the Gregorian University with speakers highlighting the different aspects of Jesuit education, widely known as Ignatian Pedagogy. I. Iglesias, responsible for the Ignatian studies at Madrid spoke on "The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and the Ignatian Pedagogy", Vincent Duminuco, Rector of Fordham University, New York, spoke on "The Ratio Studiorum from 1984 and after", Carlo Mosca, head of the consulting body of the Interior Ministry of Italy spoke on "Formation, Liberty and Globalization".

From this conference it became clear that today, Jesuits are becoming more aware about the fast changing and challenging global scenario with religious pluralism and religious indifference at the one side and hunger as well as injustice at the other. The renewed interests of Jesuits in Ignatian pedagogy is surely a first step in meeting new challenges and changes of today in “forming men and women for others, rooted firmly on justice without compromising with faith”!

New Superior Provincial appointed for Jesuits in Czech Republic (update)

Brussels, 3 March 2004 – Father General has appointed on 1 March 2004 Fr Frantisek Hylmar, 46, as new Provincial for the Jesuits of the Czech Republic, officially called the "Bohemian Province". Fr Hylmar is Superior of Prague Jesuit community and Rector of St Ignatius Church. He succeeds Fr Vojtech Suchy as Provincial and will take office on 16 May.

Frantisek Hylmar was born on 12th September 1957. He studied Geodesy before joining the Society. On 7th September 1989, he entered the Society of Jesus (just two months before the revolution). After the novitiate in Hostyn, he studied philosophy in Cracow and theology in Dublin. He was ordained priest on 25th March 1998 and then worked in the university chaplaincy in Olomouc. After that, he did his licence of spiritual theology in Madrid and then tertianship in Mexico. He took his final vows on 3rd October 2002 (in presence of Fr General Peter-Hans Kolvenbach) in St Ignatius Church in Prague.

The Bohemian Province numbers 89 Jesuits. Among them, there are 68 priests, 14 scholastics and 7 brothers. Besides, there are three novices.

Statistics 2003 show decrease of Jesuits worldwide but less than projected

Rome, 1 March 2004 (General Secretariat) -- On January 1st 2004, the Jesuits are 20,170, a decrease of 238 but less than projected. The priests are 14,148, the scholastics 3,052, the brothers 1,983, and the novices 987 (an increase of 58 over the previous year). The average age of all the Jesuits is 53.97 years; the priests 60.62, the scholastics 25.77 and the brothers 63.18.

South Asia is the Assistancy with the highest number of Jesuits (3,986) followed by the United States (3,298). The smallest in number are the Central Europe (942) and the East Europe (1,176) Assistancies.

Among the Provinces, Italy is first with 746 Jesuits, followed by France with 580. The smallest Provinces are Romania (22) and Uruguay (47).To interpret correctly the membership of the Provinces it is necessary to keep in mind that the Jesuits who belong to any of the 13 Dependent Regions (4 in Africa, 3 in the Americas, 6 in Asia-Oceania) are counted as members of the Provinces upon which they depend.

There are 9 Jesuit Cardinals (three with the right to attend and vote in an eventual conclave), and 78 Bishops (residential or emeriti).


"Sacred Space" to celebrate fifth anniversary and nine million visitors

Dublin, 25 February 2004 – "Sacred Space", the prayer website of the Irish Jesuits, is celebrating its fifth anniversary today. It started on Ash Wednesday 1999 as "something to do for Lent". In the meantime, nine million people visited the site, which is now translated in 17 languages.

"When the then Director of the Jesuit Communications Centre, Alan McGuckian, conceived the idea of Sacred Space as "something to do for Lent", who would have thought that five years later some 9 million visitors would have visited the site? It is an occasion to recall, and give thanks for, the significant events of the last five years", says Gerry Bourke, the editor of Latest Space, the newsletter of "Sacred Space".

"From relatively small beginnings, it is an incredible achievement for the Jesuits to have a daily 'readership' of some ten thousand, and a website that is translated into 17 languages around the world. For many centuries and through many generations, members of the Jesuit Community have traversed the globe in search of new opportunities to spread the message of Christianity. They have absorbed, and have been absorbed by, the cultures and traditions of their adopted countries. In your publications, you encourage the expression of Christianity through the experiences of missionaries going about God's work. As President, I have many treasured memories of witnessing the tremendous impact of people who dedicate their lives to keeping the flame of Christian generosity and spirit alive in difficult circumstances", writes Mary McAleese, the President of Ireland.

Hector D'Souza New Jesuit Provincial for India

Rome, 15 February 2004 - Fr Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, Superior General of the Society of Jesus, has appointed Fr Hector D'Souza as new Provincial of India on 14 February 2004. Fr Hector D'Souza, a doctor in Anthropology, belongs to the Kohima Region (North-East India) of which he was the Regional Superior from 1995 to 2001. He is now 53 years old, entered the Society of Jesus in 1967 and was ordained priest on 28 April 1981. He succeeds Fr Lisbert D'Souza as Provincial of India and President of the Jesuit Conference of South Asia at a date that will be fixed later.

The South Asia Jesuit Conference comprises 17 Jesuit Provinces and 3 Regions, over the three countries of India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, including residences in Dhaka (Bangladesh) and Lahore (Pakistan).

Jesuit journal Civiltà Cattolica attacks US foreign policy

Rome, 6 February 2004 (CWNews.com) - The influential Jesuit monthly Civiltà Cattolica has strongly criticized the American approach to the war on terrorism. Civiltà Cattolica -- which is generally regarded as an accurate indicator of Vatican opinion, since all articles are reviewed in advance by the Secretariat of State -- cites statements by Pope John Paul II, and adds its own commentary, in a trenchant critique of American policies.

The Jesuit magazine argues that the US military attack on Iraq was not justified, since there is no convincing evidence that Saddam Hussein was a key to international terrorism, or that he possessed weapons of mass destruction. The magazine added that the "unilateral" military action by the US and Great Britain "divided the Western world" and "provoked a crisis in the UN."

The Civiltà Cattolica editorial predicted that the American action "could have a perverse side effect," by spreading an impression in the Islamic world that the West is engaged in "a new colonization of the Islamic lands, with the objective of taking control of their oil, under the pretext of bringing democracy to the predominantly Islamic countries." That impression, the magazine said, could increase hostility to the Western world among the Muslim peoples. Civiltà Cattolica suggested that the war against terrorism could be more effectively fought not by "invading a whole contrary," but by improving intelligence-gathering services and by "avoiding any political-military action directed against an Islamic state."

The magazine claimed that the Muslim world is likely to take particular offence against the American campaign to bring democracy to the Islamic world. The magazine concluded by saying that the war against terrorism would be a long one, and the Western world can expect other serious attacks in the future. But the struggle can be won eventually, the Jesuit journal said, "if we do not commit the grave errors which have, in the past, reinforced terrorism rather than destroyed it."

Polish Jesuit Andrzej Koprowski started new job as Vice Director of Programming at Vatican Radio

Vatican City, 5 February (VID) - From the beginning of February Vatican Radio, the transmitting voice of the Holy See managed by the Society of Jesus, has a new Vice Director of Programming. He is Polish Fr Andrzej Koprowski, S.J. who is presently director of religious programming for state-run television.

Father Koprowski has also been Provincial, before reentering Rome where in the past he has taught at the Gregorian Pontifical University for some years. In his "curriculum" are also the position of Rector of the School of Theology in Warsaw and time spent as Assistant to the Father General for problems regarding the countries of Eastern Europe.

Currently the organization of Vatican Radio has as the Direction General Fr. Pasquale Borgomeo, S.J., 72 who has been Director for twenty years. From 1991 Fr. Frederico Lombardi, former Provincial of Italy, has been Director of the Programming; for two years. Fr. Lombardi is also General Directorof the Vatican Television Center. The appointment as Vice Director of Vatican Radio could be a prelude to other changes being made in mid term.


Slovakian Jesuit Cardinal Korec turns 80

Bratislava (Slovakia), 22 January 2004 – Jesuit Cardinal Jan Chrysostom Korec of Nitra, Slovakia, celebrates today his 80th birthday. Thus, he becomes ineligible to vote in a papal election.

Korec's life has been closely tied to the troubled history of central Europe in the 20th century. Born into a Slovakian worker family in 1924, Korec joined the Jesuits in 1939. He was ordained priest underground in 1950. Just 27 he was secretly made a bishop on Aug. 24, 1951, by a special dispensation from Pope Pius XII. The exceptional gesture was designed to provide for church leadership if other bishops were killed or jailed.

In 1959, he was arrested and sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment. He had served eight when the 1968 Prague Spring reform movement brought him exoneration, and he was allowed to go to Rome to receive his episcopal insignia from Paul VI. Once back, he worked as a hospital chaplain until 1973, when the new hard-line regime barred him from priestly duties again. He then went back to ministering in secret, while working as an elevator repairman. He faced constant harassment because of his refusal to go along with the regime’s religious policies. After the collapse of the communist regime, recovery came to the Slovak church under Korec’s leadership. The local seminary was reopened, monastic orders revived, books and newspapers printed. Korec set about dedicating the first of 50 new churches.

Korec was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope John Paul II in 1991. With the loss of Cardinal Korec from the list of cardinal-electors, there are now 130 cardinals eligible to vote in a papal conclave.

European Vocations Promoters meet in Dublin

Dublin, 18 January 2004 -- In parallel with having the European Presidency, the European Jesuit Vocations Promoters met in Manresa, Dublin, Jan 15th - 18th. The group comprised of some 28 Jesuits from some 20 European Provinces. Convenor was Irish Jesuit Gerard Clarke. Their apostolate is coordinate the attraction of young men to join the Jesuits and promote vocations to priesthood and religious life. At the Gala Dinner of welcome in Belvedere, young Jesuits studying here from Europe were guests of honour along with guest speakers to the conference and tour guides.

The Irish Vocations Promotion Team, led by John Dardis SJ, wanted to make the 2004 meeting a memorable one. They invited a keynote speaker, Len Altilia SJ, from Canada and prepared a series of stimulating workshops. The Irish Provincial, Fr. Gerard O’Hanlon SJ, has opened the Meeting.

French Jesuit review "Christus" marks 50th anniversary

Paris, 16 January 2004 -- With a two day colloquium at the Centre Sèvres in Paris, 16-17 January 2004, the French Jesuit review "Christus" marks its 50th anniversary. The main goal of the celebration is to show the renewal of the Ignatian spirituality as well as its fruitfulness.

"Christus was a witness and an engaged actor, as well by its studies on the Spiritual Exercises and their relation with contemporary culture, as by the publication of the Ignatian sources in a special collection of "Christus". The review accompanied the life of the Church in its spiritual dimension during these fifty animated years, which saw the Council, the crisis of the Seventies, the development of the social sciences, the return to the prayer and, more largely, to spirituality", the editor in chief, Claude Flipo, said.

More about the review and the programme:
http://www.jesuites.com/actualites/archives/2003/christus_50.htm 

1300 Jesuits and lay partners participate at the World Social Forum in Mumbai

Mumbai (India), 15 January 2004 – A Jesuit-led delegation of 1350 participants (Jesuit and non-Jesuit) will attend the World Social Forum that starts tomorrow in Mumbai, India. Main theme is "Another World is Possible". The strong Jesuit presence in WSF India is a response to the invitation issued by Fr. Lisbert D’Souza, provincial of South Asia. "It will be a fine opportunity for Jesuits to come together, in the cause of social justice and concern for the poor”, he wrote in his invitation letter.

Jesuits at WSF 2004 will be participating side by side with the people and groups they work with. The Jesuit presence and involvement in the forum has been coordinated and organised by ad-hoc Indian Jesuit working group, the South Asian Peoples Initiatives (SAPI). Some delegates will play a very active role by organising seminars, conducting workshops and setting up panels: eighteen events, out of 19 registered by SAPI, have been approved, including a testimony, panels, workshops and seminars as well as cultural and media programmes. Subjects range from tribal and indigenous people, to the impact of globalisation on the poor in Asia and environmental concerns.

As such, the WSF is not an organisation, nor a neat platform with common deliberations on which all those who participate have to agree. Rather, the basic idea is to create a space for discussing alternatives, for exchanging experiences and strengthening alliances between social movements, unions of workers, NGOs, a chance for everyone who respects such a space to come together. The first WSF was held in January 2001, in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil. The 2004 WSF is the first one to be held outside Brazil.

Specific to the Indian process, but in line with the overall WSF idea, is the crucial importance attributed to the activities undertaken in preparation for the WSF 2004 event. Organisations involved in the WSF India process have been working for the past two years on as broad a consultation process as possible. That process will eventually culminate in, but not be reduced to, the WSF 2004 in Mumbai between January 16 and January 21. 75,000 delegates are expected to participate in the forum.

World Social Forum: http://www.wsfindia.org/index.php 

Commemoration year of German Jesuit Karl Rahner starts in München

München, 8 January 2004 (Deutsche Jesuiten) – The commemoration of the 100th Birthday of German Jesuit Karl Rahner – on 5 March 2004 – starts tomorrow with a two-day academic conference at the Hochschule für Philosophie in München. From 1973 to 1982, Karl Rahner was a professor of theology and philosophy at this institute. He died in Innsbruck, Austria, in 1984.

The Symposium "Der Philosoph Karl Rahner" primarily deals with the philosophical dimensions of this important theologian of the Second Vatican Council. Keynote speakers are the Professors Otto Muck SJ (Innsbruck), Albert Raffelt (Freiburg/Br.), Josef Schmidt SJ (München), Harald Schöndorf SJ (München), Jörg Splett (Frankfurt), Béla Weissmahr SJ (München) as well as Bishop Peter Henrici SJ (Zürich) and Dr. Julius Oswald SJ (München).

Later this year other events are taking place all over Germany, in Köln, Gottingen, Freiburg/Br., Ludwigshafen and Bremen and also in Ireland, Austria and Switzerland.

More information: www.jesuiten.org/karl.rahner 

Lay people invited to participate in process for appointment of next Irish Jesuit Provincial

Dublin, 6 January 2004 – In a letter to the readers of LayJay, an Irish Jesuit Province bulletin, addressed to Lay, Religious and Jesuits together, the present Provincial, Fr Gerry O'Hanlon, announces his initiating of a process of consultation with the Province and its apostolic works in order to help towards the preparation of three names, a 'terna', to be sent to Father General.

"I would be most grateful if you, LayJay reader, would participate in the first stage of the process, namely the submission of a list of the tasks which you judge are facing the next Provincial and accordingly three qualities in order of importance which it would be advisable for him to have. You may, of course, consult with relevant people in presenting this list, which should be forwarded to John Dunne, Socius, at 87 Eglinton Road by Friday, January 30th, 2004 [preferably by e-mail to socius@jesuit.ie]. As always in these matters in the Society 'all public discussion of persons is to be carefully avoided' (Manual for Juridical Practice; p.264, par 1), Fr O'Hanlon writes.

Eventually it is the responsibility of the Provincial and his four Consultors to make the final decision with regard to the terna, and they will do this at the Province Consult on March 26th - 27th.

More: LayJay website

European Jesuit Conference launches Scribani Network  

Antwerp (Belgium), 2 January 2004 -- A two-day meeting of twelve European Jesuit centres from 9 countries took place in Antwerp on December 6th and 7th 2003, on the invitation of Father Mark Rotsaert s.J., President of the Jesuit Conference of European Provincials. The meeting was hosted by the University Centre St-Ignatius Antwerp.

The aim was to strengthen the European network of Jesuit centres and to launch a joint project within the European context. The participating centres and institutions share Ignatian spirituality as a common source of inspiration. As academic institutions or organisations for education and/or social action, they accomplish the themes put forward by the 34th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus: faith and justice, culture and interreligious dialogue.

The meeting led to four tangible results:

The following centres are members of the Scribani Network:

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