Thirty Years after the Passage to Heaven of Father Pedro Arrupe, S.J. - Father General Arturo Sosa shares a message on this day. See below.

Thirty years ago, on 5 February 1991, Father Arrupe’s profound desire to be with his Lord forever was fulfilled. Father Arrupe continues to be a source of inspiration for members of the Society of Jesus, for our partners in mission, for the broader Ignatian family, for religious life and for the Church.

The JCAM Plenary meeting of January 18-19, 2021 was originally scheduled as an in-person meeting to follow up on the traditional April and October meetings of 2020 that were both held online. Unfortunately, with the deteriorating Covid situation post-Christmas festivities, plans for such a meeting were scrapped in favour of an online meeting. Furthermore, the safeguarding workshop for major superiors that was to follow was also put off for a future date.

By Caleb Mwamisi, for AJAN 

Fr. Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator, SJ, the President of the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar (JCAM) in an interview with Caleb Mwamisi, AJAN Communications and Research Officer, speaks about the upcoming African Jesuit AIDS Network (AJAN) assembly slated for 4-6^th February 2021, and his vision for the network.

Caleb: You sit on the Board of Directors of AJAN. What challenges have you seen in AJAN fulfilling its mission?

by Magdalene Kahiu, ACI Africa

The Archdiocese of Kasama in Zambia has closed 3 Parishes as Priests, Staff Test Positive for COVID-19

Archbishop Ignatius Chama, local Ordinary of Kasama, in Zambia, directed the closure of three Parishes on Thursday, January 21, with immediate effect for two weeks due to COVID-19 infections. 

In a statement shared to Catholic media, ACI Africa, the Communication Secretary in the Archdiocese of Kasama Fr. Nicholas Kaliminwa said that Archbishop Chama’s decision to close the Parishes was because some Priests and Parish staff in the affected Parishes tested positive for COVID-19.

From Rome - General Curia Communications 

In a letter sent on 15 January 2021 to all Major Superiors, Fr. Arturo Sosa announces the holding of this important meeting of the universal Society. It will be held in Loyola and will be preceded by a week of Spiritual Exercises that, according to the wishes of the Superior General, will allow the delegates “to attend more deeply to the Holy Spirit who is active in our Society.” An announcement 16 months in advance, isn’t it a bit early?

By James Hanvey, SJ

Father General’s Extended Council meeting from January 11-15, focussed on the theme of religious poverty. The Curia Communications Office offers you three articles on the topic “Ignatius and Poverty”, by Fr. James Hanvey, Secretary for the Service of Faith, at the General Curia.

See the other articles on this link {Jesuits Global}

by Anastasia Makunu, JCAM Communication Officer

Jesuit Priest Paul Béré, was among ten biblical scholars appointed on January 13, 2021, new members of the Pontifical Biblical Commission by Pope Francis. Father Paul Béré, is a Jesuit biblical scholar from Burkina Faso, and a permanent teacher at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. On September 30, 2019, he emerged winner of the Ratzinger Prize awarded by the Benedict XVI - Joseph Ratzinger Foundation, in the Vatican, making him the first African theologian to win the Ratzinger Prize which rewards the work of theologians and specialists in related disciplines.

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

With the second wave of Covid-19 expected to peak in Africa in January or February, the prospect of a vaccination program is still not on the horizon.

2020 will long be remembered in the annals of history because of the Covid-19 pandemic. As that year drew to a close, the Covid-19 vaccine made its debut in several countries. The question we need to ask, however, is whether the disease will wane as quickly as it spread if this vaccine is not made available to everyone. Will countries who have the “bargaining power” to obtain the vaccine quickly be adversely affected should poorer countries not have equal access to the vaccine?

by Edmund Agorhom, SJ

With the scenic backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean, Fr. Chukwuyenum Afiawari, SJ, celebrated Mass at the Chapel of St. Peter Claver in Cape Coast on Friday, January 8, to kick start a tertianship programme for ten Jesuits, which will run until June 30^th. Eight are from North-West Africa Province (ANW), while two are from the Central Africa Province (ACE). The diversity of experiences of these men and their tertian instructors; (Frs) Don Hinfey and Edmund Agorhom, provide strong indications of the depth and richness that will characterise this programme, arranged by Fr. Chukwuyenum, the Provincial of (ANW) with approval from Fr. General Arturo Sosa.

By Tawanda Karombo

Catholic organizations are stepping up efforts to assist migrants returning to Africa as southern African countries – including Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa and Malawi — relax COVID-19 restrictions and open up land borders.

In some countries, strict lockdowns worsened hunger and joblessness, threatening asylum seekers and citizens returning from abroad with starvation.