Interview with Father Stany: Triumphs and Visions for South Asia’s Jesuits
Father Stany, as you wrap up your tenure as President of the Jesuit Conference of South Asia (JCSA) this October, what memories truly light up your soul? Gazing at today’s South Asian Jesuit family, which “small wins” or milestones bring you the deepest peace?
Joy and gratitude flood my heart when I reflect on these years. The Lord has worked wonders. Picture this: our JCSA blossoming as one unified apostolic body. Amid our differences, cohesion surges, fostering a strong Conference identity. This has transformed us into a true community of discernment. Together, we’ve crafted policies for key ministries – Early Formation, School Education, Higher Education, Social Action, Ecology, and more. We’ve overhauled the JCSA statutes, the Policy and Protocol on Safeguarding Minors and Vulnerable Adults, and Guidelines for the Conference of Houses of Formation (CHF) and Conference Apostolic Works (CAW). The CHF and CAW? They’ve grown – renovated buildings, new facilities, fresh programs, a thriving research culture (with faculty publishing at least two refereed journal articles each), and vibrant resource-sharing plus exchange programs.
Pope Francis champions “synodality” and the margins. How has the JCSA embodied this daily? Any periphery stories that linger?
Top of mind: our migrant outreach. When India’s sudden lockdown stranded migrants on streets, JCSA sprang into action, launching the Migrant Assistance and Information Network (MAIN). This powerhouse collaboration – Jesuits, religious orders, diocesan clergy, and civil society – has reclaimed dues, offered spiritual and psychological lifelines, secured legal aid, and even provided dignified burials for the departed. We also turbocharged past gems: (a) Lokmanch, empowering rural poor to claim government aid; and (b) peace and reconciliation amid South Asia’s polarization. Beyond our acclaimed e-journal PAX LUMINA and peace studies diplomas in Jesuit institutions, we’ve planted peace clubs in schools and rolled out modules to spread harmony across vast populations.
Steering Jesuits through India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh’s cultural kaleidoscope – how did you align everyone?
I stayed personally connected with every Major Superior, responding swiftly to their needs. Our advocacy paid off: Father General boosted South Asia’s funding from 1.5 crores (15 million INR) to 5 crores (50 million), plus Solidarity in Formation Fund grants for Provinces. I toured nearly every Province, connecting with our men and immersing in our ministries’ diversity. We supercharged Secretariats, Forums, and Networks for shared training, sparking collaboration across ministries. Common leadership programs united Jesuits and partners. The ‘Reimagining and Restructuring’ process – a true game-changer now active province-wide – ignites shared vision, direction, and bold discernment for relevance. Open talks on JCSA issues like ethnicity exposed and tackled our hidden challenges.
South Asia’s digital boom puts youth front and centre. How are Jesuits meeting them in AI and social media realms, rooted in Ignatian spirituality?
We’ve fused the Jesuit Youth Movement (JYMSA) and Jesuits in Communications (JESCOM) under one dynamic roof – meeting online and offline. Youth and communications now buzz with interaction. Enter MAGIS DIGITAL HOME (MDH): a youth hub for debating local-global issues. We’ve seeded media groups in ecclesiastical faculties, sharpening scholastics’ skills for nation-building and global ties. Plus, creative writing/media training for young Jesuits and a Conference-wide platform to showcase their work.
Over coffee with your successor, what’s your top “insider tip”? What tops the priority list ahead?
The President isn’t a super Provincial – he’s a companion to Major Superiors, sparking collective discernment and cross-province collaboration. Grasping this unlocks vision, mission, and skills. Stay attuned to the universal Society’s needs amid today’s signs. As the Conference’s face to the world (and Society’s to groups like CBCI and CRI), know our aspirations inside out – brief them boldly, nurture Conference works, and care for our men and ministries.
Priority one: Advance ‘Reimagining and Restructuring’ with crystal-clear vision and strategy. Align it head-on with ethnic hurdles that sometimes block progress.
Many thanks for your time and wisdom.
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