Institute Connects September 2019

by Jesuit Institute Spokesperson in Institute Connects on Tue, Sep 3rd, 2019 | 0 Comments

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The participants of the JENA meeting and Conference (Picture: Fr Rampe Hlobo SJ )

Institute Connects

September 2019

News from the Jesuit Institute

The participants of the JENA meeting and Conference (Picture: Fr Rampe Hlobo SJ )

Meeting, conference and golden jubilee: The Jesuit Justice and Ecology Network for Africa (JENA) met at Lumko Conference Centre in Benoni from 6 – 9 August 2019. The JENA annual meeting took place on the first day, followed by the Conference on the Implementation of the Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAPs). The focus was on the role of knowledge, research and collaboration.

Each day was opened by Annemarie Paulin-Campbell and Puleng Matsaneng, who led the participants in prayer and spiritual conversation. Several Jesuit Institute staff members presented papers at the Conference, which brought together Jesuits and lay partners from both the social and intellectual ministries in Africa. Participants included about 35 experts along with the JCAM President Fr. Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator SJ and the Secretary for Social Justice at the Jesuit Curia in Rome (The Jesuit Central Office), Fr. Xavier Jeyaraj SJ.

The conference ended with a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Jesuit Secretariat for Social Justice and Ecology that was established in 1969 by Fr Pedro Arrupe SJ.

Ngihamba neNkosi participants (Picture: Josephine)

Ngihamba neNkosi: Puleng Matsaneng and Morongoa Selepe ran a Ngihamba neNkosi training programme that was well received in Botswana. The participants had previously done some work on Ignatian Spirituality. They all appreciated the training. Some of the participants are putting their new skills to use as guides in the Tsoseletsa Retreat which is happening this week in Botswana.

Participants during the workshop (Picture: Martin van Nierop)

Care for our Common Home: During the Younger Sisters Conference of the Oakford Dominicans, held at the Bluff, Durban in early August 2019, Martin van Nierop had the opportunity to present to them a one-day workshop entitled ‘Care for our Common Home’. The workshop is based on Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’. The sisters eagerly embraced the ecological justice concepts contained in the encyclical. Each sister received a Care for our Common Home workbook written by Dr Martin van Nierop and Fr Anthony Egan SJ. The workbook is a tool designed to help small discussion groups work through Laudato Si’ and is available from the Jesuit Institute.

Group work at the recent spiritual direction training module (Picture: Kathi Tarantal)

Jesuit Institute Spiritual Direction Training Course: During Module Seven of the Spiritual Direction Training course, participants were observed giving a three-day retreat. They also engaged with issues including the accompaniment of people in places of suffering; giving spiritual inputs; communal discernment and cross-cultural issues in spiritual direction.

Group discussions during the workshop (Picture: Puleng Matsaneng)

Discernment workshop: A workshop on discernment took place in Botswana at the end of August. The 20 people who attended this workshop were happy and mentioned how they benefited from this process. They are hoping for a follow up workshop in the future.

Expanding Horizons: In our latest podcast, Ricardo da Silva SJ talks to Janine about Autism, the joys and challenges of being a mom to a child with special needs and the impact this has had on her family and church life.

Janine Scott-dos Santos is mom to Owen, a superhero boy with Autism. She runs her own HR business.

Listen on our website or on your preferred podcast app.

Upcoming events

CONTEMPLATIVE

LIVING

The Art of Meditation

A series of seminars, business breakfasts and a retreat by Fr Laurence Freeman OSB.

6 – 14 September 2019

Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg.

Laurence Freeman OSB is a Benedictine monk, the spiritual guide and Director of The World Community for Christian Meditation an ecumenical, contemplative community. He leads the teaching of meditation as part of the recovery of the contemplative wisdom tradition in the Church and in society.

For details of events near you, please see below, or visit https://www.jesuitinstitute.org.za/freeman/

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

Paul Faller (083 326 4568) paulf@cie.org.za

or

Ursula van Nierop (083 530 6478) u.vannierop@jesuitinstitute.org.za

Laurence Freeman Events

CAPE TOWN  

DURBAN

JOHANNESBURG  

The 8-Day Retreat is rooted in the tradition of the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius Loyola. The Exercises are a compilation of meditations, prayer and contemplative practices developed by St Ignatius to help people deepen their relationship with God.

Join us for this 8-day retreat at Lumko Institute, 47 Dickinson Road, Brentwood Park, Benoni North, Gauteng from 18.00 on Monday 23 September 2019 to 16.30 on Tuesday 1 October 2019.

Cost: R5,490 per person.

Contact us at retreats@jesuitinstitute.org.za.