Snapshot of the Day: Fr. Ciancimino Returns to YCHS

Fr. David Ciancimino, SJ, former provincial of the New York Province (now part of the USA Northeast Province) recently visited Yap Catholic High School (YCHS) in Micronesia and led the annual faculty retreat. By leading the faculty through reflection and prayer, Fr. Ciancimino helped faculty members to see God’s presence in their own individual lives and also in the life of the school. Fr. Ciancimino was responsible for missioning two Jesuits to Micronesia in 2011 to start a Catholic high school on Yap. Within five weeks, YCHS opened for its first freshman and sophomore classes.

400 Years of Jesuits in Vietnam

Father General Adolfo Nicolás, SJ, concelebrated the anniversary Mass for 3,000 people gathered in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

On Sun., Jan. 18, over 3,000 Catholics gathered in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to participate in the concluding Mass marking the arrival of the first Jesuits in Vietnam 400 years ago. The event culmination of a year-long celebration that started last January when Archbishop Paul Bui Van Doc, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Vietnam, celebrated the opening Mass. That Mass had a congregation of over 1,500 with over 100 additional priests concelebrating. This year’s closing Mass included Father General Adolfo Nicolás, SJ, as one of 14 concelebrants, and main celebrant Jesuit Bishop Cosmas Hoang van Dat of Bac Ninh located in the north of Vietnam near Hanoi.

The Jesuits who arrived in Vietnam 400 years ago, came after the death of Italian Jesuit missionary Fr. Matteo Ricci. While they had originally intended to go to Japan, they quickly began to befriend the local people by learning their language and culture. Since those Jesuits arrived, Christianity has continued to grow and spread in Vietnam. Additionally, the Jesuit presence there has grown as well. The Vietnam Province is one of the largest Jesuit provinces in the Asian Pacific Jesuit Conference.

Click here to read more.

Snapshot of the Day: Holy Cross Women for Others

For the past five years the Holy Cross women’s lacrosse team has been volunteering with Catholic Charities and the Worcester County Food Bank to serve those in need. “We want to give back to the community in Worcester and do our part to make sure that everyone has their basic needs met,” said Stephanie Ridolfi, head coach of the women’s lacrosse team. Click here to read more about how these students strive to be women for others.

Fr. Keenan in the Holy Land

From Dec. 22 through 29, Fr. James Keenan, SJ, director of donor relations for the USA Northeast Province made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, where he was able to visit cities including Nazareth, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem. He made the pilgrimage with his cousin and his cousin’s daughter.

Below is a photo gallery detailing some of the highlights from his trip as well as an audio clip of Fr. Keenan talking about the people he met and how the experience changed how he prays.

The view from the top of Mount Carmel.

Pictured in one of the old sections of Jerusalem, from left to right: Fr. James Keenan, SJ, his cousin Patrick Birde and their tour guide.

The Western Wall is part of the old temple which was destroyed in the first century.

The pilgrims stopped and prayed at the Garden Gethsemane, which was where Jesus prayed the night before his crucifixion.

An image from inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The church is built atop where Jesus was crucified.

The Stone of Anointing inside the Church of Holy Sepulchre is said to be where Jesus was anointed before his burial.

A close up shot of Fr. Keenan praying at the Western Wall. All are welcome but a yarmulke is required to cover one’s head.

A baptismal site on the river Jordan. According to tradition, this is where John the Baptist did most of his preaching.

A view of Jerusalem, the city where the pilgrims started their week-long tour.

Fr. Keenan poses with his walking stick in front of the old market section in Jerusalem.

Scorsese to Release Film on Jesuits Later this Year

Shuduio Endo’s novel Silence tells the story of Jesuits journeying to Japan to find their missionary mentor who is rumored to have apostatized.

This year will see blockbuster movies starring spies, rebels and super heroes but only one will feature Jesuits as protagonists.

The upcoming film Silence is Martin Scorsese’s adaptation of Shuduio Endo’s book of the same name. Taking place in Japan during the 17^th century it details the journey of two Jesuit missionaries to find their old Jesuit mentor who will be played by Liam Neeson.

Neeson is no stranger to the Society. In addition to narrating a documentary about the real life Jesuit missionary, St. Francis Xavier and playing a Jesuit in the film The Mission, his son is a senior at Fordham Prep.

Click here to read the full article about the film and Hollywood’s fascination with the Society.

Christmas Wishes From The Province

The Jesuits and staff of our province extend best wishes and prayers to you and your loved ones during this joyous season. May God bless you on Christmas and throughout the New Year.

 

Celebrating the USA Northeast Province

Fr. John J. Cecero, SJ, is the provincial of the new USA Northeast Province which is home to approximately 550 Jesuits.

After many years of strategic planning, and with the approval of Father Adolfo Nicolás, Superior General of the Society of Jesus, the New England Province and the New York Province of Jesuits united to form the USA Northeast Province on December 3, 2014, the Feast of St. Francis Xavier.

Fr. John J. Cecero, SJ, serves as provincial of this new province, which includes eight states and stretches from Maine to New Jersey and beyond to Jamaica, Micronesia and the Middle East. Roughly 550 Jesuits are a part of the new province.

The creation of this new province has been in planning for years as part of the larger reconfiguration of the U.S. Jesuit provinces. The new structure will allow the Society of Jesus to better respond to the changing needs and demographics of the Church.

Fr. Nicolás approved the recommendation that the new province be established on December 3, earlier than the originally planned date of July 31, 2015. “We agree that it is time to move forward with confidence, trusting in God and following our strong desires to be energetic and united in our mission,” said Fr. John J. Cecero, SJ.

The main office of the USA Northeast Province is located in New York City. For friends and benefactors, there will be very little change in their day-to-day relationship with the Society. The Jesuits will continue to have strong ministries that will flourish in the years to come.

“The new province that begins today is a movement of grace in our midst, and while grace sheds light on our next steps, it does not illumine the entire journey,” Fr. Cecero said in a message to his brother Jesuits this week. “That takes nothing less than shared faith, courageous hope and an ardent love for Christ and one another.”

Be sure to visit and bookmark http://jesuitseast.org. The website for the new USA Northeast Province.

 

Upcoming Ignatian Schola Concert: Dec. 7

On Sunday, Dec. 7, the Ignatian Schola will perform its annual Advent/Christmas concert entitled A Light in the Darkness at St. Francis Xavier Church in New York City. Click here to view the flyer for the concert. All are welcome. Admission is free.

The Ignatian Schola is a Manhattan-based vocal ensemble composed of Jesuits and lay colleagues, which performs an eclectic repertoire of sacred music. For updates from the Schola, be sure to follow them on Facebook here.

Click below to view a video from last year.

Snapshot of the Day: A Thanksgiving Prayer

The staffs and Jesuits of our provinces wish you and your loved ones a safe, happy and peace-filled Thanksgiving. Above is a beautiful image courtesy of Fordham University. What are you thankful for?

Snapshot of the Day: Thanksgiving Day of Service at Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit

In honor of Thanksgiving, 100 students and their Mentors from the newly formed Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School assembled 1,250 sandwich meals for SafeHouse Outreach local ministry. Mentors are volunteers from the community who are matched one-to-one with a student and provide support for students in the classroom or with their corporate jobs. Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit is the 28th Cristo Rey school in the country and is a Catholic learning community that educates young people of limited economic means to become men and women of faith, purpose, and service. Through a rigorous college preparatory curriculum, integrated with a relevant work study experience, students graduate ready to succeed in college and in life. To learn more about Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School visit www.cristoreyatlanta.org.