Stories

“Can a Jesuit be a magnet? I believe so! M.J. Peter is one such Jesuit. He irresistibly attracts the crippled, the lame, and the weak to himself with his magnetic therapy coupled with his vivacious personality.”

In Mae Chan, in the northern Thai province of Chiang Rai, you will find the youngest higher education project of the Society of Jesus. It is the Xavier Learning Community, a campus that has been under development for nearly five years...

Jesuits have a long history of working with the Santal tribes who are indigenous ethnic groups native to the eastern Indian states of Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha. The Jesuits of the Dumka-Raiganj Province have been involved in various...

In his message for 11 February, World Day of the Sick, Pope Francis writes: "Illness is part of our human condition. Yet, if illness is experienced in isolation and abandonment, unaccompanied by care and compassion, it can become inhumane."

Many years ago, in the northern Thai kingdom its rulers established their “summer residence” in Chiang Mai. They called it “Seven Fountains”. This name took account of the springs and waterfalls which abound north of the city. And the number seven symbolized perfection.

“We express our deepest sympathy and condolences to the families and communities affected by the recent earthquakes in Syria and Turkey” said Fr Arturo Sosa. “Our hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones, homes, and communities.”

The Major Superiors’ Assembly of the Jesuit Conference of Asia-Pacific continued in Chiang Mai, Thailand, until 4 February. Three parts of the meeting’s programme deserve attention.

The Jesuit Prison Ministry in Thailand has been given a piece of land in the Chiang Mai area. How might this help the prisoners? A transition house perhaps, a place to learn about organic farming? The encyclical Laudato Si’ and the pandemic have opened new avenues.

Pham Ngo Hoang Dung, known to all as Dzung, is a young Vietnamese Jesuit priest who committed himself to the Region of Thailand. We met him at the Seven Fountains Spiritual Centre and asked him what brought him to Thailand.

Forced displacement is rarely a temporary phenomenon. Many people live in precarious situations for years, or even decades, after becoming displaced. Protracted displacement situations in countries such as...

We pray that parishes, placing communion at the centre, may increasingly become communities of faith, fraternity and welcome towards those most in need.

Why do the Major Superiors of each of the Society’s Conferences meet at least twice a year? The President of the Conference organises these intensive meetings, lasting about a week, each time in a different country or geographical area. It is an opportunity...