SHOWING THE WAY TO GOD
By Fr Quyen Vu SJ, Provincial, The Society of Jesus in Australia
The Major Superiors Assembly of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific, to which the Australian Province belongs, provides us with the chance to engage in joint projects and missions, and to explore opportunities for collaboration and support for provinces/regions in need within JCAP.
The recent meeting in Seoul addressed several crucial issues, focusing on the Statutes on Poverty and the Society’s Instructions for Administration and Finances (IAF). The General Treasurer provided a detailed overview of the new IAF and their integration with these themes. Additionally, significant attention was devoted to the pressing issue of the ecological crisis, highlighting its profound impact on global climate change over the next two to five decades. Forecasts predict rising sea levels submerging some regions and extreme temperature increases rendering other areas uninhabitable. The discussion also included insights from the Migrants and Refugees network, underscoring the challenges faced by those displaced due to conflict and war around the world. As a result, some countries will face the significant burden of hosting refugees and migrants from war-torn regions.
Myanmar, Timor-Leste and Pakistan are three regions that need special attention with regard to financial and human resources. As part of JCAP, these areas will require substantial assistance in coming years to build capacity and achieve self-management in the future.
The challenges in these three regions include a lack of Jesuit personnel, which significantly hinders the growth of the mission. Those on the ground are overworked and unable to address their own needs, let alone those of the local Church. Social, economic and educational difficulties make it hard to find capable “Partners in Mission”. Additionally, widespread corruption affects the poor, presenting Jesuits in these regions with even more challenges to address. Despite these challenges, they are doing their best to serve the people, and the Jesuit presence and contributions are highly valued by the local Church, particularly in terms of formation and education. There have also been initiatives for ecumenical and interreligious collaboration and dialogue at the local level.
To enquire about becoming a Jesuit in Australia, contact vocations@sjasl.org.au and for more info, visit our Vocations page.