Stories

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...

On 21st January 1623 Fr. General Vitelleschi issued a decree canonically establishing the English Province of the Society of Jesus. Four hundred years to the day after this decree was issued Jesuits, lay-people and other religious working alongside us...

“Street life is a parallel society that co-exists alongside what we call normal society. It has its own rules and habits, even its own language. And just as parallel lines never meet, neither do these two worlds. They may exist side by side...”

A social Jesuit project in Timor-Leste that brings water and the love of God to many.

One of the great traditions of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific is the SBC: the Scholastics and Brothers Circle. The tradition had been threatened by the pandemic: the last edition took place in 2019. But on 19 to 26 December 2022 the Circle took shape again.