Pope Francis surprised us in Dhaka: ‘God’s presence is Rohingyas,’ he said. This is a remarkable challenge for us in 2018. We, the Jesuits of South Asia, respond to this challenge by committing ourselves to the Rohingyas sheltered in Cox’s Bazaar in Bangladesh, through JRS. Frs. Jeyaraj Veluswamy and Francis Dores (Calcutta Jesuits, the latter from Bangladesh) are spearheading this mission with the active support from Joe Xavier (Deputy Director, JRS International) and Stan Fernandes (Regional Director, JRS South Asia). We undertake this mission in partnership with Caritas Bangladesh. We wish them well and promise our continued support.

South Asian Assistancy is in the process of consolidating the three confluences that we have been witnessing in the last three years: 1) Re-orienting for Greater Apostolic Effectiveness (REGAE Phase I & II); 2) GC 36 Decree on ‘Reconciliation and Justice’, and 3) Apostolic priorities with strategic support from the Assistancy Development Office. These are mutually influencing each other and leading to a consolidation phase. It is happening in three distinct ways: 1) The Second Phase of REGAE is advancing with zonal level consultation animated by Franco Fernando; 2) GC 36 Decree on Reconciliation is being followed up with a Nodal Platform on Peace and Reconciliation based at the LIPI Centre (Kochi) with close collaboration from Indian Social Institute in Delhi; 3) Apostolic priorities are getting focused with emphasis on the three pillars of non-formal education, skills-building and ecology mission. The consolidation phase will get further strengthened with the on-going processes of discernment in all the Provinces and Regions on Universal Apostolic Priorities.

We enter upon this consolidation process with discernment in common as our way that will take us to greater collaboration and net-working. Let us study and deepen ‘Discernment in Common’ in 2018. At GC 36 we were introduced to ‘spiritual conversation’ with active listening and intentional speaking as effective means of discernment in common. Let our meetings and deliberations be permeated by a discerning attitude so as to arrive at decisions that are owned up and carried forward by all. May the God of surprises visit us throughout this year with numerous unexpected graces in the process of consolidation.

George Pattery, SJ

The author is the former Provincial of Calcutta Province and former President of the Jesuit Conference of South Asia (POSA).