From POSA’s Desk
The Pandemic and Omega Point! |
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| It is believed that our universe is 13.8 billion years old; planet earth is probably about 4.6 billion years young. The age of the human species had lately been estimated at between 150,000 and 250,000 years
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| LIFELINE - Online Retreat |
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| “Showing the Way to God”. The first of the UPA’s calling for implementation, beckons tantalizingly.
What better way than to lead the Laity & our non-Christian collaborators, in an Ignatian Retreat?
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How would it work out if the matter for prayer, the instructions and auxiliary helps, could be relayed digitally?
Till now the need for such a platform did not arise. Now during the enforced lockdown, the inability to visit public places of worship, and the natural tendency to introspect when alone, was a golden opportunity waiting to be exploited.
The LIFELINE Retreat coincided with HOLY WEEK 4-12th April. Beyond all expectations, it reached out to a multitude of peoples. It breached borders, and faith persuasions, to touch the core of each one’s experience of the Divine. Could this be a model for us in the future?
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| Jesuit Resource and Response Hub |
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| Individual and sporadic acts
of charity are often the spontaneous outcome of a situation calling for immediate relief.
Covid 19, distrupted normal life
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with the mortal fear of contacting the dreaded virus, but sections
of the population who were unprepared and ill-equipped for this emergency were the migrant workers, daily
wage earners, homeless, and those rendered jobless. How was one to reach out to them.
In the face of this humanitarian disaster unfolding before our eyes, JRH (Jesuit Resource and Response Hub) was launched.
It would facilitate and rally together the efforts of Jesuits, their collaborators, Alumni, and others willing to work together with them.
JRH began its operation from mid-April 2020, acting as a resource hub, networking at various levels, providing technical and communication support to help smaller entities to reach out to remedy the situation on the ground, where they were.
To read more about JRH and the activities it has begun,
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A Man of Depth
Fr Adolfo Nicolas SJ |
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Jesuit Alumni responses
during COVID-19 pandemic |
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| Jesuit Alumnae were known to be active supporters of Jesuit initiatives.
They continued in their own way the good inculcated in them by their education in Jesuit institutions.Covid 19 however, presented them with yet
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another challenge to respond to generously. They did not disappoint.
News reports from various parts of the country, revealed how they left no stone unturned to be good Samaritans to the poor and needy.
With the influence and resources they were able to mobilize they were seen organizing,
fundraising, procuring necessary materials and even distributing them personally to the
beneficiaries.
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Networks of the Spirit
A Novel Pentecost Vigil Prayer |
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| Individual and sporadic acts of charity are often the spontaneous
outcome of a situation calling for immediate relief. Covid 19, distrupted normal life
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with the mortal fear of contacting the dreaded virus,
but sections of the population who were unprepared and ill-equipped for this emergency were the migrant workers, daily wage earners, homeless, and those rendered jobless.How was one to reach out to them.
What makes these Pentecostal Vigil Prayer Services NOVEL? They were in the midst of a pandemic; they encompassed a global outreach; They attempted to unite Jesuit networks as never before in a solidarity for mission.
There were two Jesuit Pentecostal Vigil Prayer Services: one hosted by the Jesuit Curia under the guidance of Fr James Hanvey SJ (Secretary for Faith); another by Fr George Pattery and team for the Jesuits of the South Asian Conference.
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Global Peace
A priority and commitment for jesuits in south asia
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| Is peace so elusive that despite the ardent desire for it,
it seems to elude society like an eel in the hands of an amateur fisherman. A comment in the Economist (Jun 20, 2020)
‘The new World disorder’ was particularly telling. It said, “For all the UN Security Council’s flaws, it would be
missed. That is because, left to themselves, countries drift into antagonism.” (Italics added for emphasis).
Yet, there are diehard people
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who continue to work for peace, justice, reconciliation and harmony in society and the world. People who just will not give up. They hold on tenaciously to the conviction that, hope will turn into
reality one day. They are crazy enough to think they can change the world, and who knows they will succeed. We want
them to succeed.One such effort to attempt the improbable trusting in the profound longing for peace in the heart of
humanity, is the efforts of a nodal agency LIPI (Loyola Institute of Peace and International Relations) with support
from Indian Social Institute, Delhi. It has commenced a new e-publication, titled, PAX LUMINA. LIPI is a
(the nodal platform with Indian Social Institute, Delhi) for the Peace and Reconciliation Network of the Jesuit
Conference of South Asia.
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Collaboration and Networking
A Key takeaway from this pandemic
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| A pandemic is not what we would wish for. Not a desirable under any circumstance.
It spells sickness, isolation, death, and bereavement for individuals, families, whole communities and nations. There is, besides this, the economic, political and social costs that compound human
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misery. However, like in every crisis there lies latent an opportunity for a brighter future. This pandemic has seen the birth of new initiatives at collaboration & networking, with the possibility that this could be the new normal in our ways of functioning.
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| Thanks Fr. Lisbert D'Souza |
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| Fr Lisbert D’Souza is leaving the General Curia after nearly 16 years of service as Father General’s Assistant for the South Asia Assistancy. Few Assistants, in the modern history of the Society, have held this type of responsibilities for so long. And very few had the opportunity to offer their advice to three different Superiors General. Welcome back, Fr Lisbert. |
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