As I write this morning, just before the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, I find myself reflecting on my journey as a Jesuit missionary, one of the few Americans sent to the Philippines many years ago. And I think one of the last to go, many of our companions have left us for the house of Father. I remember all of them in happy memory. I remember our youth, and our zeal. But most of all our adventures. Our mission, inspired by the spirit of our founder, Ignatius, took us to a land he never physically visited but whose challenges and spiritual thirst he deeply understood. We came here with the same fervor that ignited Ignatius’ heart, driven by a desire to spread the love and knowledge of Christ to those who had not yet encountered Him. We went here thinking that we would be bringing more of the Good News in these shores, we ended up finding the Good News planted and thriving already in the lives of the many people we met.
As the world turns its eyes to Paris for the Olympic Games, I am reminded of the Paris that shaped Ignatius’ own journey. It was in Paris that Ignatius came to understand the value of education, not just as a means of personal advancement but as a pathway to knowing Christ more profoundly. Jesuit education is not an end, it is a pathway to God – it is a service to humanity whose ultimate purpose is to behold God. Ignatius’ time in Paris transformed him, instilling in him a desire to share the depth of his newfound faith with others. This desire led him to gather like-minded companions, to inspire them as he had been inspired, and to found the Society of Jesus—a group of men committed to the greater glory of God. I am lucky and humbled to be called to join this company.
Ignatius’ vision was one of a universal mission, a mission that extended far beyond the borders of Paris or any single place. It was a mission to bring the love of Christ to the ends of the earth. As Jesuits, we continue to carry forward this mission, striving to ignite in others the same desire to love and serve that burned within Ignatius.
But dear reader, let me take you a step further into the vision of Ignatius as it is lived out today. More specifically, let us consider a particular incarnation of the Ignatian vision in the southern island of Mindanao in the Philippines where I spent most of my Jesuit life. Here, we find an ongoing effort to bring to light a world that has long thirsted for God, a world that is coming to birth through a deep allegiance to Christ. Filipinos call Mindanao “the Land of Promise” for indeed it is, but now it ceases remain just a promise, for the dawn of fulfillment is slowly emerging.
The missionary efforts of the Jesuits in Mindanao have a rich history. It began during the early centuries of Spanish colonization when Jesuits, along with other missionaries, embarked on a mission to evangelize the region. The strategy was to establish mission stations around the Muslim-majority areas in western and southern Mindanao, encircling them with Catholic parishes. The aim was not to confront the Muslim population directly but to gradually and peacefully introduce them to Christianity.
Today, however, the Jesuits’ approach has evolved. The Catholic Church has shifted from a confrontational stance to one of reconciliation. Rather than focusing solely on conversion, the emphasis is now on dialogue. This shift recognizes that true evangelization begins with understanding and mutual respect. For many in our Church today, this is exemplified beautifully in the Pope’s call for a more synodal and listening Church. Respect goes a long way – it reminds us to what is important. Instead of approaching our neighbors with a sense of superiority, we now seek to engage them in conversation. We explore together the deeper truths that transcend our individual beliefs, recognizing that no one has a monopoly on truth.
This approach, of course, requires us to be in constant communication with those we seek to reach. In our contemporary world, this means harnessing the power of technology, particularly the internet. Just as Ignatius was willing to stand on the street corners of Paris and share his experiences of Christ, we too must find ways to communicate our faith authentically in today’s digital age. This for many requires courage – to see beyond how things are done and how we understand opportunities. Ignatius and the early Jesuits were daring, our superiors were daring in their dreaming and in their quest. But this courage is not reckless arrogance, but Spirit-led, it is the fire of Pentecost that rested gently on the heads of the apostles, but it was that same fire that allowed them to move beyond the comfort zones and create new paths in the service of the Gospel.
Fortunately, Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) in addressing the need to be courageous in our response to technology as means of connecting people and creating spaces of deeper encounters has established a satellite outreach program called ACCESS (Ateneo Computer Connectivity and Satellite Services). Led by Dr. Romar Sese, Chair of the Aerospace Engineering Program at ADDU, ACCESS aims to bring education and communication to remote areas of Mindanao through satellite technology. This initiative is a modern embodiment of Ignatius’ vision—a way of reaching out to the peripheries, where access to education and communication is limited.
The ACCESS program assists institutions in setting up satellite dishes, allowing them to connect to the broader world through the internet. These institutions, often in remote and underserved areas, can now access educational resources, communicate with others beyond their immediate vicinity, and participate in a global conversation. The program is designed to be sustainable, with member institutions contributing a fee to maintain their satellite connections. Currently, the program relies on a commercial satellite service provided by a company in Singapore. However, there are plans to eventually launch a satellite owned and operated by ADDU, further expanding the reach and impact of this initiative. By this time dear reader, I hope you realize that encountering God and our desire to serve him impels us to move into action – to carve new ways of doing things. Courage is not a feeling but a decision to act and to do things differently. But more so, true courage is to do things bravely and creatively for the service of others.
Through programs like ACCESS, the Jesuit mission in Mindanao continues to evolve, embracing new methods and technologies while remaining faithful to the core principles of Ignatian spirituality. The commitment to education, social justice, and dialogue remains as strong as ever, even as the means of achieving these goals change with the times.
Reflecting on my life as a Jesuit, I see a journey marked by a deepening understanding of what it means to serve in the spirit of Ignatius. It is a journey that has taken me far from home, to a land rich in culture and history, where the challenges of mission work are met with faith and creativity. It is a journey that has taught me the importance of adaptability, of meeting people where they are, and of using all the tools at our disposal to communicate the love of Christ – for this is the end of all that we do. And I pray that this too is the end by which I’ve spent my life on: the Love of Christ.
As we celebrate the feast of St. Ignatius this year, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to be part of this mission. The work is far from over, but with each new initiative, each new conversation, and each new connection made, we move closer to realizing the vision that Ignatius had for the world—a vision of a world united in love, peace, and the search for truth. I am grateful to be a small part of it.
In the end, the life of a Jesuit is one of constant discernment, of seeking God’s will in every situation, and of being willing to go wherever the need is greatest. It is a life of mission, of reaching out to others with the message of Christ’s love, and of building bridges across cultures, religions, and nations. As I continue on this path, I am reminded that the mission is not just about converting others but about being converted selves—about being transformed by the encounters we have and the people we meet along the way, for God has been constantly revealing himself, showing himself, giving himself in all opportunities, through all things.
Dear reader, this is the life that Ignatius envisioned for his followers, and it is the life that I, along with my fellow Jesuits, strive to live each day. It is a life of service, of love, and of a deep and abiding commitment to the greater glory of God and to be of service to our brothers and sisters – our neighbors, Christ’s own people. And it is a life that, even in the midst of challenges and uncertainties, brings with it a profound sense of joy and fulfillment. That has been my life and continues to be so, and I thank God for every moment of it.