The JCAP Ignatian Spirituality Network meets in Person

ISN recently met for a weeklong workshop at the East Asian Pastoral Institute in Manila

The Ignatian Spirituality Network (ISN) recently met for a weeklong workshop at the East Asian Pastoral Institute in Manila—the first among JCAP’s networks to meet in person since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. From 29 August to 3 September, participants from Australia, Cambodia, the Chinese Province, Timor-Leste, Korea, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Thailand—45 of them in person, with more than 20 participants online—joined in a rich sharing that included presentations on different aspects of Ignatian Spirituality, as well as the opportunity to have spiritual conversations and reconnect face to face as ISN moves forward together as a network.

ISN Coordinator Fr Edward Quinnan SJ co-chaired the workshop with JCAP Planning consultant Dr Christina Kheng. Speakers included Australian Jesuits Br Ian Cribb (“Keeping the Essential of Discernment Before the Discerning Group” and “Fostering Spiritual Conversations”) and Fr Michael Smith (“A Long, Loving Look at the Real”). Sally Law from Hong Kong shared on the “Invitation to Spiritual Conversation through Unpacking Ignatian Concepts”, while Fr Lawrence Soosai of Patna Province guided everyone on a “Universal Spirituality Retreat”. Fr Quinnan also gave inputs on “Working with Group Culture and Dynamics” and “Group Resistance and the Two Standards”.

The Jesuits Among Muslims in Asia (JAMIA) launched a new title, “Journeying with Muslims the Ignatian Way”. JAMIA was well represented by Fr Greg Soetomo SJ, Rene Oliveros, Mona Pangan, and special guests Arnalyn Dulla and Khalid Bashier, who contributed their insight and experience in the intersections of Islam and Ignatian Spirituality.

Meanwhile, the Buddhist Studies and Dialogue Group, via Fr In-gun Kang SJ and Fr Ari Dy SJ, officially launched their 2021 title, “The Wheel and the Cross: An Anthology of Jesuits and Friends on Buddhism and Dialogue”.

Participants also shared their own ideas, suggestions, consolations as well as desolations. They were encouraged to use Discernment in Common to ask where the Spirit was drawing the group. The emerging consolations included more opportunities for people to experience the Spiritual Exercises, focusing on Discernment in Common, adapting Ignatian Spirituality to a more diverse audience, working with the youth on caring for creation, and developing leadership and core training for spiritual directors.

JCAP President Fr Tony Moreno SJ spoke of how Showing the Way to God through the Spiritual Exercises and Discernment is “a very important preference”. He emphasised Discernment in Common, spiritual conversation, which he called “a different kind of language, way of listening, way of speaking”, and adapting Ignatian Spirituality to other cultures and religions as important means for continuing dialogue with other faiths and in finding ways to create good experiences of collaboration.

Source: Jesuit Conference Asia Pacific