From the Editor's Desk Fr Shajumon Chakkalakkal,SJ (Socius to POSA, Jesuit Conference of South Asia) By the end of December 2020, JCSA bid farewell to Fr Keith Abranches, SJ, who was the Socius to the POSA, the Secretary of Formation and the Editor of SAAJAN. He has taken up his new office as the Rector of Gesu, Rome. The Jesuit Conference of South Asia will miss him. We dedicate this issue of SAAJAN to Fr Keith Abranches. We also present to you the plight of Indian farmers protesting against the recently enacted farm laws in India, Jesuit interventions in alleviating the sufferings of the migrants in India, the continuing efforts at standing with Fr Stan Lourduswamy who was unjustly arrested on false charges, the Conference preparations for the Ignatian year 2021-22 and other news of the Conference.

		Stand with Stan Fr Stanislaus Lourduswamy an octogenarian Indian Jesuit priest hailing from Jamshedpur province was illegally arrested on the 8 th of October 2020. This has stirred up the air mainly in India and some parts of the world. It has been over 120 days of incarceration of Fr Stan in jail despite the continuous effort taken by Jesuits, collaborators, various CSO’s, NGO’s, Human Rights groups, several Jesuit institutions and prominent leaders etc, to release Fr Stan. Read More

		Ignatian Year Fr Stany D’Souza, the POSA through his circular dated 22 November 2020 appointed an organizing committee for the Ignatian Year at the Conference level with the following members: Fr Francis Pudhicherry (Coordinator), Fr Roland Coelho, Fr Ajit Xess, Fr Siji Chacko, Fr Sunny Kunnel. They held online meetings with Province Coordinators of Ignatian Year to plan Conference level celebration of the Ignatian Year. Click the button below to check the collated reports sent from provinces. DOWNLOAD THE REPORT

A short function was organized, immediately after the celebration of the Eucharist on 28 December 2020 at the Jesuit residence, Jor Bagh, New Delhi, in gratitude for the services of Fr Keith as the Socius of the Conference and also welcoming Fr Shajumon to the office of Socius. Fr Keith was appointed as Socius to POSA in 2015. He worked under two Presidents of the Conference for six years. He also served as the Conference Delegate for Formation for the last six months. His spiritual outlook, amiability and sporting spirit are hard to forget. His life of discipline and passion for details enhanced the efficiency of his work. His commitment and dedication to his work are inspiring. Fr Stany, the President of Jesuit Conference of South Asia said in his message that Fr Keith had been a great support to the Conference and the service he rendered could not be described in words. The office of the Socius requires someone with a combination of talents, efficiency, reliability, confidentiality and loyalty to the Society. The Socius is the memory and hands of the Provincial.

Fr General appointed Fr Keith as the Rector of Gesu, Rome. He now goes to serve the universal Society. The Jesuit Conference of South Asia will miss him. We wish him all the very best for his future ministry.

Jor Bagh community also welcomed Fr Shajumon Chakkalakkal as the Socius to POSA and Fr Arjen Tete as the new Secretary for formation. Fr Shajumon was the Socius to the Provincial of Darjeeling before he came to Delhi. Fr Arjen has been teaching theology at Jnana Deepa, Pune for many years.

Fr KT Chandy handed over the first copy of his latest book ‘Invisible Injustices’ to Fr Stany on 29 December 2020 at Jor Bagh, New Delhi. The book is a collection of essays he published over the years. Congratulations, Fr Chandy!

International STEAM Research (ISR) and TED CIRCLES honoured Fr Sunny Jacob SJ in KOLKATA, on 31 January 2021, for outstanding contribution over the years in the field of education and invaluable contribution to TED Circles. Congratulations Fr Sunny!