From the Rector

Last week we were blessed to have the General of the Jesuits, Fr Arturo Sosa SJ, visit Adelaide. He celebrated Mass at Saint Ignatius Church, Norwood, and then gave an address and responded to questions in the Mary Glowrey Centre at the Junior School. Fr General also visited Sevenhill. This was a poignant place to appreciate the Jesuits’ 175 years presence in Australia. For us, this was a lovely connection to the international Society of 15,000 Jesuits (the largest religious order in the Catholic Church) and so many companions in mission around the world. Father Sosa is the 31st Superior General of the Society of Jesus, with a succession dating back to Ignatius and 1540. He had a busy schedule of meetings in Sydney, Melbourne, Sevenhill, and Adelaide, and then went to visit Timor-Leste.

Father Sosa became the Jesuit Superior General in 2016. He has steered us with wisdom and dedication. He joined the Jesuit novitiate in Venezuela during the transformative era just after the Second Vatican Council and the inspiration of Fr Pedro Arrupe. He served as the Provincial in Venezuela from 1996 to 2004, fostering discernment and visionary planning. He is a seasoned academic in political science and has worked in social action and policy research over many decades.

He acknowledged that the Society of Jesus cannot exist without those who support and have been partners in this mission. He expressed the importance of working together as one Church:

Here are some other words of wisdom from his visit: https://jesuit.org.au/wisdom-from-the-pulpit/

This week our Provincial, Fr Quyen Vu SJ, came to the College. Once a year he visits every Jesuit community to reflect with each Jesuit. We discuss how we are going personally in our spiritual, communal, and ministerial life. We share about our areas of personal growth and our struggles. This is an important part of our Jesuit governance, and these conversations assist the Provincial and his Consultors with the placement of Jesuits in his care. Our Provincials are appointed for six years, and Father Quyen is now in his fourth year.

Fr Peter Hosking SJ
Rector

OREMUS (Let us pray)

We remember all in our College community. May our prayers comfort those suffering at this time. May God’s blessing be a source of support in their sorrow and loss, and bring courage, patience, and hope.

For those who have died:

• Peter Gerard Doube (Class of 1970)

“Ask and you shall receive … knock and the door will be opened unto you.” (Matt 7:7)

If you would like someone to be remembered by the College community in prayer (even anonymously), please provide details to the Rector, class or Mentor Teacher, or House Leader.

The College’s Ignatian Service Program is based upon the deep understanding that each of us is called by God and possess a profound commitment to Jesus Christ who is the exemplar of our human conduct.

During this week’s Chapel service the program was officially launched. At each year level students are expected to completed the following hours:

• Year 7: 5 hours  
• Year 8: 10 hours 
• Year 9:  10 hours  
• Year 10: 15 hours
• Year 11:  15 hours + Caroline Chisholm Community Service Placement (held in Week 9, Term 2)
• Year 12: no minimum, all students are encouraged to serve in some capacity. They may choose to re-establish a link with their Caroline Chisholm provider from 2023.

The service should be appropriate for their developmental stage. In Years 7 to 9  students concentrate on the experiences of being ‘for others’ while students in Year 10 to 12 should aim to serve ‘with others’. Examples of service will be communicated to all students via an email and will also remind them to fill their hours in the Faith and Service page in SEQTA. Similar to last year, hours will then be tallied and added to the Semester 1 and Semester 2 College reports.

Students are encouraged to see me should they have any questions.

Shane O’Brien
Director Mission Coordinator – Ignatian Service Program