AMDG Express Newsletter 06 May 2008


6th May 2008
It is with relief that we hear that none of the Jesuits in Burma has been hurt by the devastating cyclone which struck that country last Friday. While we give thanks for this, we also pray for the estimated 22,000 dead and the almost 50,000 people who are still missing. Editor

	Ignatian humanism for today As part of its Arrupe Seminar Series, Manresa has invited Ronald Modras, Professor of Theology at St Louis University, to be principal speaker at a public seminar on Transforming Education. Professor Modras will lecture on ‘Ignatian Humanism’. In his book of the same name (full title: Ignatian Humanism: a Dynamic Spirituality for the 21st Century), he stresses the fact that Jesuit spirituality is rooted in a humanism which values the secular world, the diversity of world cultures, and scholarship of every hue. Professor Modras’ lecture will take place at the National College of Ireland (Mayor Street, IFSC, Dublin 1) on Saturday 24 May at 11.00am. To register for this seminar, go to Jesuit.ie’s Modras page.
Jesuit news from Yangon Paul Pollock SJ, the regional superior of Burma, has just returned from visiting the Jesuit houses in Yangon, where, despite minor damage due to the cyclone, they are thankful for no casualties. There are three Jesuit houses in Yangon, the country’s largest city and most important commercial centre. Paul reports “The storm hit on Friday night and by Saturday morning, Yangon was a devastation.” Most roads were inaccessible, especially due to falling trees. The 21 candidates at Canisius House joined local people in clearing roads and fixing properties. Read more about this on the AMDG website »
	Interview with Fr Lombardi BBC Radio Ulster held an interview with Fr. Federico Lombardi SJ, director of the Vatican Press Office, on Sunday 4 May. He talks about the Papal visit to the U.S., the perceived change in Pope Benedict’s image, and a possible Papal visit to Northern Ireland. It was broadcast during their Sunday Sequence programme, and can be heard on their playback facility here (starting at 53 mins). Fr Lombardi was also interviewed in Rome recently by BBC journalist Martin O’Brien. Fr Lombardi’s earlier interview about the Jesuit mission to be at the frontier of faith and culture can be seen here on H2O Catholic News.
	Women in Prison: the Need for a Critical Review The Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice (JCFJ) is holding a seminar entitled Women in Prison: the Need for a Critical Review, on Thursday 22 May, 5-7pm, in the Bar Council Law Library, Dublin 7. The keynote speaker is Baroness Corston, author of The Corston Report, a review of women with particular vulnerabilities in the criminal justice system of England and Wales. The seminar is being held in the context of Irish Government plans to double the number of places for women in prisons. They include the relocation of the main prison for women, the Dóchas Centre, to an enlarged facility in the proposed prison complex at Thornton Hall, and the building of a new prison at Kilworth, Co. Cork. The venue is the Bar Council Law Library, Distillery Buildings, Church Street, Dublin 7. There is no charge for this event, but registration is requested: prisonseminar@jcfj.ie; tel: 01-855 6814. Further details at: www.jcfj.ie.
	Promoting JUST cause The Jesuit University Services Training (JUST) project, based in Ballymun, Dublin, which has seen more than 50 people avail of its services this year, will be spending the summer break concentrating on promoting access to third level education in the area. They plan to reach out to the growing immigrant community and will have the services of a fluent Polish speaker, Prof. Helina Czosnynka, during the summer, as well as connecting with the Polish ministry based in Gardiner Street. JUST is also exploring how it can work with the second and third level Jesuit education network in Ireland. The JUST offices are currently in the old shopping centre, Ballymun, and they are awaiting news of, hopefully, a new main-street premises with the reconstruction of the new shopping centre. The death of Liam Greene SJ is still keenly felt by staff and students.
Ecumenics launch in Belfast Dr. Michael Jackson, Church of Ireland Bishop of Clogher, launched the new book edited by Fr. Michael Hurley SJ, The Irish School of Ecumenics 1979-2007, on Thursday 1 May in Belfast. In his speech Michael noted that “the history of the School is the history of its growing involvement in Northern Ireland”, and that political peace and Christian unity were prominent concerns from the very beginning. See photos of the launch on the ISE website.
	Students become teachers in innovative project RTE 1’s Drivetime gave extensive coverage to a group of Belvedere students who have been teaching English to immigrants. In a seven-minute slot on 25 April, Drivetime’s Nicoleen Greer described this unique project, jointly arranged by Belvedere and the Jesuit Refugee Service. She interviewed Michael O’Neill, one of the participating student-teachers, and a couple of the immigrant students - who are highly appreciative of the service. Eugene Quinn, director of the Jesuit Refugee Service, spoke too, stressing that the venture was greatly beneficial both to the school students and to the immigrants. The Drivetime segment can be heard on the RTE website. Click on ‘Dublin students in new language initiative’.
Cut-price retreats for young adults (18-30) For the second consecutive year, Saint Beuno’s Spirituality Centre in North Wales is offering retreats for young adults for as little as Stg£25. The Director of St Beuno’s, David Birchall SJ, notes that typical retreats costing Stg£300 to Stg£400 are too expensive, particularly for those in the 18-30 age group. So for an eight-day retreat beginning on Friday, June 6, and a six-day retreat from Thursday, 26 June, St Beuno’s is offering an individually guided retreat from just £25 deposit. Read more on the AMDG website »
Belvedere’s Family Fun day Belvedere College’s second annual Family Fun Day will be held on Sunday, May 25, in the Old Belvedere Rugby Club from 12-6pm. Aimed at all families, friends and past pupils of the College, it consists of sports, activities and games for younger children. There is a free barbeque and soft drinks. For enquiries and application form, contact Belvedere College Development Office, (00353)1 8586600, pmcd@belvederecollege.ie.
Five years for arson attack on Jesuit headquarters Noah Bunn was sentenced on Friday 2 May to five years imprisonment for his arson attack on the former Jesuit headquarters in Eglinton Road, Dublin. He has been in custody since April 2007 and, with remission for good behaviour, it is expected that he will serve a further thirty two months in prison. Justice Katherine Delahunt refused him leave to appeal the sentence. First reports: Press Association, Irish Independent

We remember in our prayer George Fallon SJ who is in hospital. The brother of Michael T. Kelly SJ, Roibeard O’Ceallaigh, who is seriously ill. Those affected by the natural disaster in Burma. Joe Palmisano SJ who is on course for beginning his ordination retreat on May 13.