First week of General Congregation 36.

Opening Mass – Sunday, 2nd Oct. - The Society of Jesus’ General Congregation 36 began today as the 215 delegates celebrated Mass at the Church of the Gesù in Rome. The main presider was Father Bruno Cadoré, the Master of the Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominican Order. 

Resignation of Fr. Adolfo Nicolás – Monday, 3rd Oct. — Feast day of St. Francis Borgia, third Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Fr. Adolfo Nicolás, SJ, 30th Superior General of the Society, submitted his resignation to General Congregation 36. After deliberations, the Congregation voted to accept his resignation. Fr. Adolfo Nicolás, SJ, submitted his resignation as Superior General; he named Fr. James E. Grummer, SJ, Vicar General of the Society until a new general is elected

De Statu Societatis – Tuesday, 4th Oct. – The work of the congregation for this week was be divided in two phases. The first phase is a discussion on the current state of the Society in the world. The electors received, beforehand, the report of a committee that worked before the plenary session to outline the framework that is defined with a Latin expression, De Statu Societatis (on the State of the Society). The electors will have the opportunity of discussing the document in small groups, consisting of ten delegates each.

After the initial general discussion on the De Statu Societatis the conversation was focus on the following topics: The situation of the world today, the situation the Church today, and Fidelity to the Society’s Charism Today. They also discussed Vocation Promotion and Formation, Universal Mission in a Global Society, Jesuit Community Life, and Servant Leadership. Other topics were on Cooperation and Networking between and among Levels, Solidarity and Communion. The discussions will culminate with a consideration of Challenges in the next ten years.

These conversations help members of the Congregation to get a clearer idea of the kind of superior general the Society needs. At the end of this first phase, the Congregation will move into the next week phase, the murmuratio. In a few days, we will present in detail this unique Jesuit tradition that is the immediate preparation the election of their General.

Mass at Saint Peter’s Basilica - Friday, 7th Oct. – The members of the Congregation went to celebrate the Eucharist at Vatican. They crossed St. Peter’s Square and, like millions of pilgrims before them during this Jubilee Year of Mercy, walked through the Holy Door of Mercy.  The electors then celebrated the Eucharist in the “Chapel of the Cathedra” or of the chair of Saint Peter. This chapel is located directly behind the main altar of the Basilica. Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, the former longtime president of the Ateneo de Manila University and the oldest member of the Congregation, was the main celebrant.

In the following session, the delegates elected the Secretary and Sub secretaries of the Congregation. Fr. Luis OrlandoTorres SJ [UCS] was elected Secretary of the of the General Congregation. [Center] and Agnelo Mascarenhas, SJ, [GOA] was elected the first sub-secretary, and Francisco Javier ["Patxi'] Álvarez, SJ, [ESP] was elected the second secretary.