PDF version
 The very reverend Father General of the Society of Jesus, Adolfo Nicolás, met the scholastics of the Institute of Theology of the Society of Jesus on Friday 17 April.
The word of welcome by the beadle
In his word of welcome, the beadle of the community, scholastic Valère Nkouaya (AOC), first of all pointed out how happy the companions were to receive Father General in the Theologate. He then underlined the determination of the scholastics to be open to be formed, conscious of the need for a contextualized theological formation. Before calling on the host of the day, the beadle enumerated the various apostolates in which the scholastics are engaged, thanks to which the Society of Jesus is made known.
The intervention of Father General
Father General Adolfo Nicolás began his intervention by inviting the scholastics to feel free in this exchange. Indeed, he places his voyage under the sign of learning about Africa which he does not know yet. The goals of GC 35 and the current challenges faced by the Society made the essence of the meeting that went on for 90 minutes.
On GC 35, the 29th successor of St Ignatius stressed the need for him and his collaborators to work promptly to answer to the five priorities which mark the life of the Society.
The first concern has to do with spiritual life. It constitutes the source of every inspiration in the various engagements of the Society.
The second question relates to the very mission of the Society of Jesus. For Father General, there is at this level a great need for planning which takes into account the socio-economic challenges of the world including the current economic crisis. With this intention, he encourages the Provincials to form ours in the human and social sciences in particular anthropology, sociology, psychology, economy, accountancy, leadership…
The third priority proves to be collaboration with non Jesuits. Delicate and difficult but extremely important, collaboration with others compensates for the insufficiency of the Jesuit presence in our works.
The fourth question relates to the reform of the administration of the General Curia with the objective of better taking into account the problems of the contemporary world.
As regards the fifth concern, it is centered on formation, key for the future and priority of the priorities in the Society. Indeed, as underlined by Father General, “what we receive during formation is what we will be in the apostolate”. On this question, the documents produced under the generalate of Father Kolvenbach are rich and deserve to be exploited thoroughly. Taking into consideration the expectations of the Church which expects a lot from the Society, the Jesuits must be formed in leadership which belongs to the tradition of
excellence.
Answers to the questions of the scholastics
In answering the questions which were presented to him on his own experience of the Society, Father General showed himself as being very open. Having joined the novitiate at 17 years old after secondary school, it was during his studies of philosophy that Father Adolfo Nicolás deepened his knowledge of the Society by the study of the letters of Saint Ignatius. The period of theology which he spent in Japan was also very decisive for him. He was called at the end of his studies in Rome to be professor of systematic theology at the Sophia University of Tokyo, Japan. He would then be director of the Institute of Pastoral of Manila in the Philippines, before being the rector of the scholasticate in Tokyo, then provincial of Japan. After this last mission, he worked for three years with poor immigrants in a parish of Tokyo. Then he was again called to work in administration to be the moderator of the Conference of the Jesuit Provincials of East Asia and Oceania. All things considered, the Japanese experience had a powerful influence in Father Adolfo Nicolás, who intends to govern the Society with a team spirit and in harmonious collaboration.
To answer the challenge of universality and of missionary spirit in the Society, Father General encourages the Provincials to engage in international collaboration, in a spirit of discernment of their respective needs. Vis-à-vis the decrease of vocations in the Society, he underlines the need for collaboration with the laity formed in the spirit of our Constitutions. However, the promotion of quality vocations must be the mission of every Jesuit. Regarding the teaching programs in the African theological colleges, Father General noted that there is need for a reform of the contents of the teaching of philosophy and theology for a better adaptation to Africa and especially for a better communication with our contemporaries. Moreover, he recognized that there are indeed difficulties regarding pedagogy in the transmission of knowledge in our Jesuit institutions in general. He encourages the Provincials to place at the disposal of the philosophical and theological colleges qualified and devoted professors.
On the question of the grades in the Society, Father General recalled that at the time of the last General Congregation, Pope Benedict XVI expressed his wish that the present formula be maintained. However, he pointed out, to be a profess called to pronounce the 4 vows implies a vocation to availability and a capacity to in-depth service of the Church and it is not a matter of an academic problem or of any given specialty.
Refusing any comparison with his predecessors, Father Generals Arrupe and Kolvenbach, Father Nicolás stated: “one cannot imitate the others. Each one is what
he is. I am what I will be”. Like the disciples of Emmaus, the scholastics theologians of ITCJ exclaimed: “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Lk 24:32).
Barwendé Médard Sané, S.J. (AOC)
 Before leaving the Theologate (ITCJ), the community asked Father General to plant a
tree, a flamboyant, a sign and symbol of his first and unforgettable visit to Africa. Father General answered with humour: “Give me the news of this tree in the Ex officio letters that you will write to me”!
The last morning in Abidjan was dedicated to meeting (90 min) with the communities of Ignatian spirituality: each one of these groups (EYM, CLC, Ignatian Group, Chemin Neuf, apostolic Community Saint François Xavier, La Xavière, the moms of the Saint François Xavier chapel) was presented by mentioning its activities and its hopes.
Father General felt at ease with these groups which speak the same language, live the same spirituality and try to communicate it to others. He answered to their presentations by encouraging them to persevere in the way initiated, in spite of the difficulties, and while always seeking to be creators and transformers in today’s world.
The time of break was used to take souvenir photos. Then followed the Mass presided by Fr. Jean-Roger Ndombi, Assistant for Africa. Father General pronounced the homily and gave the final blessing.
A reception awaited us outside the chapel. It was a moment of great joy and fraternity before separating from each other with nostalgia. Then, Saint François Xavier community offered us a good meal before leading us to the airport for the trip to Accra, the capital of Ghana.
At the end of a one-hour flight, we arrived to Accra where Frs. George Quickley, Provincial of North Western Africa, and John Ghansah, Superior of the community of Coast Cape, waited for us.
At Saint Anthony parish where we stayed, the reception was cordial and fraternal…
Jean-Roger Ndombi, S.J.
Back
|
