Andhra Province: Showing the Way to God in our ministries
Spiritual Dialogue
Showing the way to God is an integral part of every ministry within the Province as it is a pivotal point for the life-mission of the Society of Jesus. Those engaged in spiritual ministries do so on either full-time or part-time basis. The full timers are available throughout the year, giving retreats to retreatants, especially religious, seminarians and students. In some instances, this ministry extends to engaging with other religions. For example, Fr Bosco’s involvement with Muslim leaders at various levels is a tremendous spiritual witness to the values of universality and reconciliation that the De Statu Societatis propagates. The Jesuits engaged in retreat ministry integrate their profound experiences and make the retreats more personal, contextual and effective.
For many other Jesuits who are not engaged full-time in retreat ministry, they take advantage of holidays and breaks to preach retreats, recollections and conduct orientation programmes, as long absences from their primary ministry can cause disruption. Their desire to help souls to find God in the Ignatian pathway drives the men in their service to God’s people.
In addition to giving retreats, the Andhra Province employs other ways to show people the way to God. Writing, composing music, musicals, conducting workshops, orientation and film-making, among others, are a few of these ways. Others are books, publications, plays, TV interviews and YouTube channels.
More so, the two Retreat centres in the Province, Ananda Jyothi and Satyodayam, render spiritual service throughout the year for individuals and groups. The centres also offer recollections, retreats, seminars, Inter-Faith dialogue meetings – for the clergy, religious, laity and people of other faiths.
Pastoral
Every Jesuit in the Province does their part to show the way to God in their respective missions. Parish priests, in particular, hold a special and commendable place. In the dioceses of our Province which comprises two states – Andhra and Telangana – we have 12 Jesuit parishes: one urban, a couple of town parishes and the other nine, rural parishes – most of them with substations. Every day, they lead the faithful in worship, celebrating the Eucharist and other Sacraments. Through Sunday catechism for children and faith formation for adults, homilies and reflections, seminars and retreats, family Rosary and praying the Word of God, charismatic gatherings, parish priests play their role as shepherds of God’s flock. A lot of effort has also been put into the construction of Churches, Chapels, Shrines and Grottos.
The specialty of our Jesuit parish priests is that they help their parishioners to pray using Ignatian methods. They guide parishioners in their discernment; introduce Ignatian themes and Ignatian spirituality in their homilies, retreats and talks as they accompany them on their way to God. Our parishes welcome fellow Province men from the institutions and other ministries for pastoral and sacramental assistance, especially during the Advent-Christmas and Lent-Easter seasons. They keep alive the Ignatian spirit in their content and celebrations.
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