Jesuits and Partners in Mission looking from all over Europe to Rome.

While in Rome the 36th General Congregation is preparing the election of next Father General of the Society of Jesus we would like to give another perspective from other Jesuits and Partners in Mission who are working in different countries of our Conference territory. We have asked them to answer to two questions: 

1 What is your message for our new Father General?

2 Concerning your apostolate and mission, what are your hopes and wishes for GC36?

Here we find answers of two Jesuits in the field “Preparing for Mission”. Here there are some answers. We will publish more each day. If you want also to participate, leave your message in our Facebook page.

GC36 from... Lisbon (Portugal)

Francisco Mota SJ 

1. What is your message for our new Father General?

Please be magnanimous (§728 Constitutions) and let your imagination be filled with this desire for the SJ to "undertake great things in the service of God". We need a renewed optimism and zeal for the mission + the rediscovery of a personal way of government in the SJ 

2. My hopes and wishes for GC36?

Better mobility of men and funds across the SJ would be a good goal for the PT Province. But most of all, what we can both offer and receive is sharing across the SJ experiences of real consolation in mission: let us be better at showing one another what God is building through us.

Pictures: Magis Portugal, Summer Academy (heading)

GC36 from... Lviv (Ukraine)

Vyacheslav Okun SJ

1. What is your message for our new Father General? 

I would like to wish Fr. General to continue the course which was chosen by Fr. Adolfo Nicolas, which is also related to the motto of the GC 36. Going deeper in what we are already doing: profound prayer, studies, community life, apostolate... From myself I would like to wish him more courage so the Jesuits all around the world could respond and help people to find the solution for the reconciliation... I think about Syria, Libya, Turkey, Ukraine, Colombia...

2. Concerning your apostolate and mission in Ukraine, what are your hopes and wishes for GC36?

Ukraine is a real frontier in the real sense... Ukrainian people are fighting on that frontier between truth and lies, life and death, love and hatred. I wish that we as SJ would be able to respond in depth the issues which are so important for the Ukrainian society and Church today.