On 20 May, 500 years since the injury suffered by Iñigo de Loyola in Pamplona that led to his conversion, we begin the worldwide celebration of Ignatius 500. I quote its official website (www.ignatius500.org): “we celebrate… an experience that transformed Ignatius of Loyola forever, and gave rise to a spirituality that has facilitated the encounter with God of multitudes of people from generation to generation… [W]e live it as an opportunity to update that experience in ourselves, in our relationship with God, with others and with Creation… To ‘see all things new in Christ’ [the theme of Ignatius 500] is to go out on the road, to discover God who dwells and works in all creatures, and to contemplate Him in everything that happens to us.” Ignatius 500 will end on 31 July 2022.
Pilgrims with Ignatius, an online prayer to mark its start, will be broadcast on 23 May, Pentecost Sunday, 8pm Manila: www.ignatius500.global/live. Please share this event widely (see the attached poster). In our Province, besides the annual events connected to Ignatius, a number of activities are lined up for this year. A prayer concert in July will be presented online by Center for Ignatian Spirituality. “Treasures of the Jesuit Archives” is a traveling exhibit with an online component to be launched in Cebu as part of the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines. “Mirar: Contemplating God’s Glory through Photography” is a year-long engagement with photographers at Mirador Jesuit Villa Retreat House in Baguio. Our various schools and universities are firming up plans for several ventures and will announce them in due course.
Marking and deepening our shared desire for conversion through Ignatius 500 dovetails with our Renewed Province Plan, particularly Thrust 1, fostering integrity and accountability among us. Our Action Plans in this regard further our participation in the Ignatian Year. I echo the sentiments of Fr. General: “This Ignatian Year should first and above all be an opportunity for an experience. Through all the events and projects developed during this year, we want to invite people to live an experience of conversion.”
May God be gracious to all our efforts this year.
Fr. Primitivo E. Viray, SJ
Provincial Superior, Philippine Province