A drawing of Casa Loyola as it would have appeared in the time of St. Ignatius. It is located in Azpeitia, Gipuzkoa in the Basque region. (It is now surrounded by many religious buildings and within the area there is a basilica.) On the right is the identifying symbol of the family of the casa – two wolves at a pot of food, enough food to feed all visitors. This stone is set above the main door, which was on the left lower corner of the casa.
Ignatius was born on Christmas eve in 1491, the youngest of 13 children. He was baptized Inigo Lopez.
In 1509 Ignatius began a military career. He was engaged in much warfare under the Duke of Navarre. It was during the defense of the citidel of Pamplona in 1521 that Ignatius suffered a serious leg wound that left him incapacitated. Ignatius that they carried the wounded soldier back to his home in Loyola. It was a distance of about 17 km over difficult terrain.
The recovery period was long and quite difficult. On at least two occasions he had to go through very painful operations to properly fix and set his wounded leg. His desire was to read a number of the popular novels of the day, adventure and romance, tool while away the time of his confinement and in action. The only two books found in the house were the life of Christ and a book of the lives of the saints. With nothing else to do, Ignatius read and reread these two volumes. These books changed his life.
God’s grace was touching him. He felt Much consolation in reading about Jesus and the holy saints; more peace and consolation than what he felt when he was thinking of the life of a gallant and dashing Knight. In this time, it seemed he already experienced a number of visions. He felt that he saw most clearly mother Mary and the Child.
With this, he resolved to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and in imitation of the Saints to live a life of poverty and chastity and to make every effort to convert the peoples in those regions.
And so it was, in spite of the many protest on the part of his family to dissuade him, Ignatius began his pilgrimage from Azpetia to Jerusalem.
Ignatius left the casa sometime in February, 1522. He rode on horseback. He was accompanied by his brother. Together they made an overnight vigil at the shrine of Our Lady at Aramtzazu about 15 kilometers from Loyola. The next day his brother returned home and Ignatius continued on his pilgrimage.
The journey from Arantazu to Montserrrat took more than a month. It was generally uneventful except for the encounter that Ignatius had with a Muslim traveler where there was sharp disagreement about the Virgin Mary.
In late March Ignatius arrived in the vicinity of Montserrat, possibly at Manresa near Barcelona. In that small town he bought a pilgrim’s garment made of sackcloth and he gave his fine garments to a beggar. (which caused some difficulty for the better).
The picture is of the Montserrat range as seen from Manresa.
Ignatius had now reached the second step of his journey to Jerusalem. He was to pay his homage to the Black Madonna at the Benedictine Abbey in Montserrat. As he mentioned in his Autobiography, he spent time in prayer and made his general confession. He took three days to write out all that he wanted to bring forward seeking forgiveness for the sins of his past life. The next day he would receive the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
On the evening of March 24, 15,22, he began his knightly vigil before the altar of our Lady. This was the eve of the feast of Mary’s Annunciation.
The image shows Ignatius already in his pilgrim’s garb offering his sword to his Lady – a moment of consecration.
The pilgrim’s clothing would be his clothing for a long period of time – as he journeyed to Jerusalem and later would spent much time in Manresa and Barcelona..
For sure, deep in Ignatius’ mind was his intention to make the final part of his pilgrimage – to the land of the Lord Jesus in Jerusalem and there to stay for his mission for God’s glory.
Reflection and Prayer
Ignatius was much like each one of us – trying to find our place in the world.
The way was clear for him – born into a family of minor nobility a career as a military man was most appropriate.
And so, that is what he did – and quite successfully, it seems.
He had some basic human virtues that would do well for him –
most notably, a sense of loyalty in a life of service.
We see that helped bring Ignatius to the spiritual leadership that was his great grace.
CHRIST THE KING 2020 (Kristong Hari), November 22, 2020
The Word
Matthew 2 1 When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”
Matthew 25 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, 32 and all the nations will be assembled before him.”
34 Then the king will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.”
40 “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”
Matthew 21 4 This happened so that what had been spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled:
5 Say to daughter Zion, “Behold, your king comes to you, meek and riding on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'”
John 18 36 Jesus answered [Pilate], “My kingdom does not belong to this world.”
John 19 2 And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak, 3 and they came to him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck him repeatedly.
John 19 14 … [Pilate] said to the Jews, “Behold, your king!” 15 They cried out, “Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!”
19 Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read,
“Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.”
A REFLECTION and PRAYER
Brightness — Light — Darkness — Glory
A number of years ago, Father Ruben Tanseco and I were discussing themes for the Feast of Christ the King. (As you may know, Father Ruben passed to the Lord a month or so ago – may he be in peace.) We talked about the common image of Christ the King sitting on the magnificent throne crowned with gold and holding an orb and a scepter. Super glorious!
And he mentioned the image of Jesus standing there so much alone with the purple cape and a crown of thorns being presented by Pilate to the people – “This is your king!” (You can see it on Google images.)
I have outlined a bit of this reality in the Scripture passages chosen above:
the Magi bringing wonderful gifts to a newborn King
how the great king will judge and reward
a king entering Jerusalem for the Passover festival – not a king riding in a chariot drawn by great horses and surrounded by well-armed soldiers –but a humble servant-king riding on a donkey
a dialogue with Pilate ending in a death sentence – but with the saving inscription above the lifeless victim – “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.”
finally, the glorious moment from the Book of Revelation as the king draws the generous of heart to himself
As you can imagine, each of these small episodes are not for reading but for reflection and prayer.
Perhaps you can take five minutes for each text – imagining each scene in your own mind, being in the scene – by seeing, by hearing, by feeling; participating – by speaking, by touching, by helping.
You can also pray over one episode each day this week – that would make for good daily prayer. We keep in mind that the journey of Jesus was of compassion and mercy, gentleness, healing and forgiveness.
Can we journey with Jesus? Can we do as he has done – compassion and mercy; gentleness, healing and forgiveness?
Pain and suffering are part of the journey – these we offer with the pain and suffering of Jesus.
Jesus Christ, our king, give us your grace for our lives!
Father Bill Kreutz SJ, Loyola House of Studies, Scripture from the New American Bible. (Images from Google)
Lumad students from the Binhi Te Peglaom Dormitory
Caring for Lumads: The Fr. Leoni Mission Foundation Inc. (FLMFI)
The Fr. Leoni Mission Foundation, Inc., is a non-stock, non-profit organization established in 1998 by Fr. Mateo Sanchez of the Society of Jesus in honor of the late Italian Jesuit, Fr. Ferrucio Leoni, SJ.
The Foundation was established in response to the growing concerns of the Lumads in Bukidnon. The indigenous people in Bukidnon have long been isolated from opportunities that lead to improved lives. The exploitation from unsavory characters have only worsened their condition. Thus, FLMFI started the literacy, livelihood and education programs for the Lumads.
For a time, the literacy, livelihood and scholarship programs ran successfully even with the constant change of the foundation leadership as appointed by the Society of Jesus. However, the drive to become sustainable has come to fore because of volatile US and Europe financial markets where majority of its donors come from. With the leadership of its new president, Fr. Braulio M. Dahunan, SJ, the foundation is embarking on reviving the program to continue the mission as it stands. LUMAD (Life for the Underprivileged and Marginalized through Advocacy and Development) Program aims to not only continue the literacy, livelihood, and scholarship programs of the foundation but also achieve sustainability by gradually entering into social enterprises that will eventually support its programs in the future.
As IP Ministry Coordinator of the Society of Jesus in the Philippines, SJ, Fr. Dahunan SJ set up the“Kahungyaman Cultural Center for Peace and Development” on January 17, 2013. Currently, the center serves as the base for the programs and projects of FLMFI. In the said center, the “Binhi Te Peglaom (Seed of Hope) Lumad Scholars Dormitory” for elementary and high school scholars, Heritage House, Mission House, Organic-Agriculture Production Demo Farm and Food Production and Livelihood Center are located.
Vision-Mission statement
We envision a holistic human formation of the Indigenous Peoples in their process for self-determination and for the sustainable development of their communities that is respectful to their culture and in accordance with their needs and aspirations.Thus, we need–
1. to deepen Jesuit presence, accompaniment and involvement with the Indigenous Peoples in the spirit of solidarity with them;
2. to provide direction in their struggle through community organizing participatory action research;
3. to empower their communities and leaderships through communal discernment and strengthening of roles and responsibilities in sowing good seeds for future generations to nurture and uphold;
4. to promote authentic dialogue and integration of culture and faith through a mutual enrichment between the indigenous culture, spirituality, religion and the Catholic Christian faith.
LUMAD programs: (Life for the Underprivileged and Marginalized through Advocacy and Development Programs)
LUMAD is a Visayan term that means “native” or “indigenous” person. They are more referred specifically to the natives or indigenous people that can be found in the Mindanao Region of the Philippines, a region that has often been associated with war and violence over the years. While many LUMADS suffer first-hand, the collateral damages of war such as displacement, loss of basic necessities, livelihood and housing, many also suffer neglect and exploitation brought about by loss of opportunities and inability of government to provide the basic necessities that would constitute what we call LIFE.
IP YOUTH EDUCATION AND FORMATION PROGRAM
Community-based Literacy program (kahungyaman literacy centers)
This program aims to provide non-formal basic education to Indigenous People (IP) communities.Since many of the children and adult IPs are unable to read and write because of lack of access to formal basic education, they are vulnerable to the deceptions of lowland traders and politicians.We have literacy centers for day care pupils and alternative learning system for adult and out-of-school youth.These centers are ran by volunteer para-teachers who reside in the area.Educational materials and food during school days are provided to help the learners in their learning and to free themselves from household chores that may take them away from learning.It is hoped that with this program, we will lessen the percentage of illiteracy among IP communities
Formal basic education scholarship program (binhi té péglaom lumad scholars dormitory)
This program aims to provide formal basic education to IP youth who have the capacity to go through the rigors of formal education.Since public schools are far from their homes, most often they would stop schooling due to lack of sufficient food for their weekly consumption.Thus, we have taken scholars to live in the “Binhi Te Peglaom Lumad Scholars Dormitory” to go through formal education in a nearby public school in the Poblacion for elementary students and in Fr. Leoni Memorial School for high school students.Aside from providing them with quality education, the dormitory provides holistic formation to the scholars with the hope that they will become future leaders who will serve in their respective communities.
Lumad Scholars
Lumad students from the Binhi Te Peglaom Dormitory
Volunteers for IP communities & enhancement program
This program aims to develop our scholars who graduated from high school to become more equipped and ready for college education as they prepare to take examinations for scholarship grants while they are also engaged in teaching, organizing, social enterprise and entrepreneurial activities of Fr. Leoni Mission Foundation, Incorporated.This program will also serve as an on-going formation with regard to personal development, as well as, leadership and communication skills of our scholars.
College aid and vocational support program
This program aims to facilitate our high school graduate scholars to get scholarship grants or sponsorships either for college or voc-tech courses according to their capacities and capabilities.They will still continue to be closely monitored by Fr. Leoni Mission Foundation, Incorporated, while at the same time they will continue with their involvements with FLMFI activities and formation programs.We instil a sense of responsibility to our scholars so that they will hopefully go back to serve their own people and develop their communities.
We now have five college scholars who get scholarship grants but we are supporting them for their living allowances:Jession Diwangan is a DOST and XU scholar taking up BS-ECE in Xavier University; Mitchell Ayawon is a Monark Foundation Technical Institute scholar; Reymond Ally, Margie Tumalas and Gia Sarinao are BIC scholars taking up BS-Religious Education in San Isidro College.We need Php 118,200.00 every year to support them in their studies.
SUSTAINABLE ORGANIC-AGRICULTURE AND ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
This program aims to sustain all our programs by generating income through organic-agriculture production and social enterprise.This will also provide sustainable human and community development through trainings on organic-agriculture and entrepreneurship that will ensure food security and livelihood.This program will also ensure the protection of the environment and proper management of natural resources. Apparently this program develops a deeper sense of cooperation and solidarity amongst the Indigenous Peoples for sustainable development of their particular communities and for lasting peace at large.
Growing organic vegetables
We just started this recently, and so we need assistance in order to develop this further and be able to produce more products.Thus, we need a start-up capital of Php 200,000.00.
IP LEADERSHIP ENHANCEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
This program aims to empower IP leaders who will be responsible in realizing sustainable development and lasting peace in their communities in the spirit of solidarity and in the promotion of the common good.Thus, it is crucial to accompany these leaders in their process of becoming credible and trustworthy leaders: who will safeguard their beautiful cultural heritage and tradition; who will have vision for their people; and who will carry-out their mission in the manner befitting of a good IP leader.Seminars, workshops, trainings, and formation programs will be provided in order to capacitate and equip leaders.
We need Php 124,000.00 every year in order to support the activities of IP leaders in their Social, Political, Economic, Communal and Spiritual (SPECS) formation.We are also facilitating seminars, workshops and trainings that will capacitate and equip them as leaders.
Donate
You can course your donations via:
Credit Card – Visit www.phjesuits.org and click on “Give Online”
Bank of the Philippines (BPI) Branch – Make a bill’s payment to “PJAA”; indicate name in place of reference number.
BPI Online, ATM or Phone – Enroll “PJAA” as a biller/merchant and make a payment. (Note: Please send us acopy of your transaction slip by fax to 926-8150 or by email to aid@phejsuits.org and include your contact information so that we can properly acknowledge your donations.)
Fr. Noel "Weng" Bava, SJ with Talaandig youth, Miarayon, Bukidnon
St. Therese of the Child Jesus was established by Jesuit missionaries thirty (30) years ago. It subsists largely due to the generosity of the foreign and local benefactors, mostly friends and relatives of missionaries assigned in Miarayon, who see the wisdom in educating the youth of the mission area alongside delivering spiritual nourishment of the people.
When the pioneer missionaries get transferred to other assignments, benefactors and donors of the school stop supporting the school or transfer their support to other projects of the previous missionaries. Often, the school is left operating on a shoe-string budget and on many occasions, borrows funds from the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus for the needed upgrade and upkeep of its facilities.
The passage of The Enhanced Basic Education Act (R.A. 10533) in 2013, which seeks to increase and improve compulsory education from 11 to 12 years, adds to the burden because of the need to accommodate a greater number of students.
Miarayon is a barangay of the fourth class municipality of Talakag, Bukidnon. It is a community of tribal minorities: Talaandigs (80%), Dumagats (15%), Maranaw Moslems (4%) and Igorots (1%) comprising about 5,000 families. The local dialect is Binukid but most could speak the Visayan language. The area has limited access to water and electricity and the roads may be accessed mainly by motorcycle (habal-habal), horse-riding or walking. There is no reliable signal for telecommunication yet.
THE TALAANDIGS
The Talaandigs are friendly people. They are deeply religious and value family and social kinship. They are reliable and industrious. Despite these traits, many remain poor because of the lack of opportunity to get proper education. To know more about the Talaandigs, view the full video made by Symantec Tooth and Gum Care here.
ST. THERESE SCHOOL OF MIARAYON
St. Therese School of Miarayon is the only High School operating in the area covering about five (5) barangays or villages with about seven (7) or so public elementary schools. The next available High Schools are some sixty (60) or so kilometers away from the centro. In 2015, there are approximately 320 students. However, this figure dips radically due to students who drop out within the first quarter of the school year. Of the students who continued, approximately 500 students have graduated and a good number have gone on to college and earned their degrees.
Photos by Jun Bugtas, Ro Atilano, and Ritz Arandia. From the Windhover.
By Fr. Olivier Lardinois SJ, Assistant for Formation, Chinese Jesuit Province
This article was originally published in Jesuits in Asia Pacific 2015, the annual report of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific. It can also be found in their website.
Jesuit Commitment
At the very heart of the Jesuit vocation lies a personal commitment to follow the call of Jesus to work through him, with him and in him at the service of the Kingdom of God, which grows anywhere love and justice flourish: “Follow me and I will make you into fishers of men” (Mark 1:17) This is
Entrance Day 2015. Photos by Jun Bugtas, Ro Atilano, and Ritz Arandia. From the Windhover.
why several documents on Jesuit formation claim that God is the educator par excellence and why training for mission cannot succeed without helping the young Jesuit foster his friendship with Jesus. Through a solid and regular prayer life, the young Jesuit in formation cultivates his intimacy with Christ, which slowly teaches him how to better discern, teach, behave and love as Jesus himself would do. In fact, without an ability to convert himself daily in front of the Gospel and a deep desire to grow as a disciple of Jesus, a young man is unfit to enter or to stay in the Society of Jesus.
Gaining a freedom of heart
Another crucial dimension of Jesuit formation is to learn how to gain an ever-growing freedom of heart in front of all those things that can become a real obstacle to serving the mission well. Some examples of obstacles are over-dependence on the affection of our family or good friends, too great an attachment to material comfort, a recurrent desire to feel 100 percent secure, our own ideas or prejudices regarding other persons or social classes or cultures or religions, our inner fears and anxieties, a lack of faith in God’s actions, having too strong a need to have our achievements seen and praised by others, and giving too much attention to our own self-respect and face. This is why Jesuit formation endeavors to provide not just solid training in spiritual life towards conversion, but also a few psychological tools to help the future priest or brother to know his own personality better-his talents and limits, the inner wounds brought by early childhood, his patterns for leadership and the maintaining of relationships, his own gree, sexual impulse, anger or blues, etc. The more a man learns about how to cope well with his own imperfect character and psychology, the better he can serve others.
Empowering Priests and Brothers
Another important challenge of Jesuit formation is to empower future priests and brothers so that they can serve, accompany and/or train people, with enough joy, abnegation, intelligence, discernment, common sense, discretion, flexibility, humility and creativity. Without possessing at least a few of these abilities, it will not be easy for them to pursue the main aims of the Jesuit mission: to inseparably promote faith and justice, to train men and women at the service of a more attractive Church and/or a better world, to do mission works at the frontiers i.e. where other priests usually do not go to serve, and to dialogue and cooperate with people of other cultures and/or religious faiths. This is why even as the young Jesuit studies philosophy or theology, he is asked to serve with confreres and collaborators in different kinds of challenging works to teach him how to work as part of a team and help him become a more mature, wise and loving human being. These works include service to the sick or to prisoners, teaching in a high school or university, social works at the service of the poor, intellectual research, preaching in front of an audience, youth training or pastoral leadership, media work, and spiritual guidance.
Last but not least, the main characteristic of Jesuit formation is the Magis Spirit. It means to learn how to reflect and to work at a deep level, so that the result of one’s efforts in mission work can produce many good and long-term fruit. Jesuit formation insists much on the high quality of intellectual studies, which should not only include a solid introduction to the human sciences such as philosophy, social analysis and anthropology and/or psychology, but also good training on how to reflect,write or speak on various subjects in depth, with a sharp, critical spirit in front of the sources of knowledge which man uses, and with the realization that any reality if often quite complex to understand and judge. In this spirit, the young Jesuit is encouraged to experience at every stage of his formation various mission contexts, which will help him work effectively in today’s global and multi-cultural world.
The only school in Miarayon region with no covered hall to keep children safe from rains and the heat during out of class activities. But the kids don't complain."
The Jesuit Formation
Jesuits in the Philippines are prepared for ministry through a long and rigorous process of formation. The formation of Jesuits for priesthood takes 11-12 years, indeed a considerable period of time. For quality service requires quality preparation. The costs of formation over so many years are very high. For many years, the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus has managed to cover the cost. But with rising costs, the Philippine Province is beginning to feel heavily the financial responsibilities of its mission.
Stages in Jesuit formation
The impact of the Jesuits in the Philippines is extraordinary and unparalleled. They are probably best known as caring and gifted educators, but they are also deeply committed to community service, apostolic missions and religious vocations.
Over the years, so many Jesuits have lived, worked and died in the Philippines. This is what they do – give their all, no matter what the cost. Today there less than 300 Jesuits in the Philippine Province, of which 100 are over 70 years old, and so many of them are infirm in one way or another. Their health and medical care have taken its toll on the finances of the Jesuits.
We appeal to our lay partners to honor and support these deserving men with your kindness, thoughtful prayers, and with your generous donations.
Jesuit Mission
Our Jesuit priests are called to bring hope, reconciliation and peace into situations of hopelessness, strife and enmity. They are missioned to Bukidnon to serve the people in Zamboanguita and especially the indigenous people in the surrounding mountains, to the poor people and former lepers of Culion, to the prisoners of Muntinlupa, to the sick at Philippine General Hospital, to direct the Emmaus Center to provide counselling for religious and priests, and even to Myanmar, Cambodia and East Timor.
Wherever they are assigned, our Jesuit priests cannot do the work alone. In most places where they serve, the people have very little money to put in the collection box.
Tinaytayan Elementary School Children’s Mass
We appeal to our friends to join our priests in their mission with prayers and through generous contributions to their apostolic works.
The Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus is engaged in ministries located near rural parishes and parish schools. These works, which fall under the Apostolic Arca, or simply Apostolic works, require subsidy since target beneficiaries are poor and belong to marginalized communities. Jesuit priests are sent to minister to these communities.
Photo taken by Jomarie Calago
Photo taken by Kim LIm
Photo taken with Fr.Mark Lopez, SJ, Fr. Bros Flores, SJ, Fr. Irmo Valeza, SJ
Photo taken from UP PGH Chapel FB page
Photo taken by Cres Rodriguez Yulo
photo taken by Jeff Pioquinto SJ Thanksgiving Mass in Ateneo de Davao University.
Jesuit Communities
The Society of Jesus’ newly ordained priests will be sent to the communities below. Please click on the links to know more:
Ambrosio F. Flores, S.J. will finish his Licentiate in Theology and in the second semester go to Culion to assist in the parish and in Loyola College of Culion.
Mark Peter L. Lopez, S.J. will go to the mission in Cambodia.
Alvin D. Laput, S.J. will be the assistant parish priest in Miarayon, Bukidnon.
Please lend your support by making a donation TODAY! Just click inside the HOW TO MAKE A DONATION box above. You can also like, follow and share the Philippine Jesuit Aid Association (PJAA or Jesuitaid), the development arm of the Society of Jesus, Philippine Province on FB and twitter, or do the same for the Jesuit mission areas mentioned above. Every little action helps.
The picture is of the Montserrat range as seen from Manresa.
