Trip to northeast India firms ties with Jesuit Kohima Region

Bishop Joseph Mukala, of Kohima, (white cassock) escorts a group from the Wisconsin Province of the Society of Jesus on a local tour. The native shawls worn by (from left) Fr. Peter Klink, SJ, Fr. Provincial Jim Grummer, SJ, Fr. Tom Stegman, SJ, and John Sealey, province assistant for social and international ministries, were gifts of welcome. The group journeyed to India in late March to solidify an understanding of mutual cooperation and support, known as a twinning agreement. The agreement was further advanced in late April when Fr. Gregory Coelho, SJ, Kohima regional superior, and Fr. Hector D’Souza, SJ, former regional superior, visited Jesuit works in Milwaukee and South Dakota. Kohima Jesuits, like their Wisconsin brothers, minister in seven states and work with indigenous people in various pastoral, educational, social, and spiritual ministries. The Wisconsin group went to many of the 12 Jesuit parishes in southern Nagaland to assist with numerous Easter Vigil Masses and baptisms. On Easter Saturday, Fr Grummer also dedicated a new house for Jesuit scholastics in Jakhama. Overall, the Wisconsin group visited numerous works, including Jesuit parishes, schools, and social ministries in three states. The Kohima agreement, like a similar existing document with the Eastern Africa Province, comes at the urging of Fr. General Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, SJ. He believes Kohima and Wisconsin will benefit from each other’s talents and resources in efforts to achieve their respective priorities as part of an international society grounded in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. The Kohima Region borders Bangladesh and Myanmar (Burma) to the south and Bhutan and Tibet to the north. India’s Northeast has preserved a rich identity consisting of indigenous mountain populations and southern Himalayan cultures.

---

Superiors gather in St. Paul for semi-annual talks

Fr. Dan McDonald, SJ briefs Jesuit superiors during a semi-annual gathering of the Wisconsin Province’s 19 superiors recently in St. Paul, Minnesota. Fr. McDonald discussed the latest developments in efforts to renew apostolic community life, one of four province priorities that also include: living and teaching the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, living and working in solidarity with the poor, and educating agents for God’s justice. Other discussion at the weekend-long meeting included health and aging among the clergy and the ongoing formation of priests and other religious.

---

Jesuit novices bring lessons of prayer and reflection to others
Mike Mosley, nSJ (right) helps a L’Arche community member in Cleveland decorate a birthday cake as part of his short experiment experience. Founded by Jean Vanier in 1964, L’Arche is a worldwide network of more than 110 communities in 30 countries that creates homes for people with disabilities. Wisconsin Province novices, and their counterparts from the Missouri and Upper Canada Provinces, leave the Jesuit novitiate for an extended period following their 30 day retreat in December and January to do service work and put into practice what they prayed about on retreat. [William] Mbugua, nSJ (far right), an Upper Canada novice by way of Kenya, spent his short experiment at Immaculate Conception Parish in Clarksdale, Mississippi, where he taught and tutored students and gave talks about African cultures.

Return to Spring/Summer 2002 issue

Previous Article: Provincial Letter