Jesuit History in Thailand Modern Waves
The closer the events get to us, the more difficult it is to write an objective and inclusive history (if such a thing be possible). But here are a few abstracts from Part III of the History of the Jesuits in Thailand, a work that is still in the writing.
[Jesuits, Candidates, Lay Partners]
A few noteworthies:
1976. Fr. Iker Villanueva was appointed the second Regional Superior of the Thailand Jesuits. He addressed the challenge of lack of Thai vocations to the Society: in 1979, a live-in Jesuit Candidacy Program for young men interested in the Jesuits was begun at The Seven Fountains in Chiang Mai;
Vocation Camps. Each year from 1979 on, the Jesuits conducted a Vocation Camp similar to those held by many of the dioceses and religious congregations in Thailand. From those who applied to enter the Jesuit candidacy program at the conclusion of each Vocation Camp, a small number would be carefully screened and selected. Today there are over 55 young men in this program at Loyola House, Saam Pran.
November 14, 1980. Fr. General Pedro Arrupe announced from Rome the setting up of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), a response to the immense refugee crisis emerging in Thailand: “the Vietnamese boat people” fleeing to Thailand from Communist rule in Vietnam; together with scores of refugees from Cambodia and Laos also. JRS, Asia/Pacific & JRS/Thailand are both housed inside Xavier Hall, Bangkok.
April 22, 1991. The Thai Region became a part of the Indonesian Province of the Society of Jesus.
1991. Fr. Olivier Morin, who had been a Jesuit volunteer refugee worker with the JRS in Malaysia and Thailand during the refugee crisis, returned to join the Thai Region, and initiated our Prison Ministry, an incredible outreach to those forgotten or despised by society.
August 1, 1994. Jesuit Social Services Center (JESS) began its work, to contribute to the betterment and quality of life for the poor and marginalized, including those with HIV. Emphasis has been placed on the prevention of child-exploitation in the sex industry. JESS works out of Xavier Hall, Bangkok.
Catholic University Students. This ministry, for which the Jesuits were invited to Thailand by Bishop Chorin in 1954, continues to be a constant Jesuit effort. Difficult enough from its inception, the student apostolate encounters greater challenges than ever in this age of materialistic globalization. Fr. Maharsono is the Jesuit national university student chaplain.
Retreat Ministry. The Seven Fountains in Chiang Mai began as a Catholic university student center. After many years, it became the home of the Jesuit Candidacy Program. Today Seven Fountains is engaged in full-time work for spiritual renewal, the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, spiritual direction, an uninterrupted need in the local church.
2003. Santiwana begins; a new center for spiritual reflection and renewal; located on the outskirts of Bangkok; evolving under the constant guidance and efforts of Fr. Vichai; a joint project with the Ursuline Sisters of Thailand on whose land the center is located.
February 8, 2004. In response to the generous invitation of the Bishop of Chantaburi, Msgr. Lawrence Tienchai Samanjit, and after discernment on the part of Jesuit superiors, we accepted to shepherd the parish of Our Lady of Lourdes, Bang Saen, Cholburi. Next door to the parish is the thriving Burapha University, which will also be part of the ministry of the Jesuits in Bang Saen.
December 10-11, 2004. The Jesuits of Thailand celebrated 50 years of service in the Kingdom of Thailand (the second wave). [actual anniversary was November 17, 2004]
December 10: at the Xavier Hall Center, Fr. General Peter-Hans Kolvenbach delivered a challenging inaugural address to invited guests (clergy, religious, alumni & alumnae, partners and collaborators).
December 11: Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated at Xavier Hall Chapel, with Cardinal Michael Meechai Kitbunchu presiding; the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio; Bishop Lawrence Tienchai Samanjit of Chantaburi; Fr. General Peter-Hans Kolvenbach; Fr. Joseph Doan Nguyen Cong, Regional Assistant; Fr. Martin Suhartono, Regional Superior of Thailand; eleven Jesuit Provincial/Regional Superiors of the East Asia and Oceania; together with some 50 priests concelebrating, and over 500 of the faithful participating in a joyful and grateful Eucharist.
2011. Interreligious Dialogue, always part of our work, under various Jesuits and in various forms; now under the direction of Fr. Kriangyot, who has returned from Sri Lanka where he did his doctorate in Buddhist Studies. He is now assigned to the Bishops' Conference.
Jesuits in Formation Today: Hope Springs Eternal.
in Manila, Philippines
-theology studies (3)
-humanities studies (2)
in Jakarta, Indonesia
-university degree (4)
in USA
-doctorate in Biology and Biomedical Ethics (1)
in Thailand
-doctorate in Anthropology (1)
-in the Jesuit Candidacy Program, Saam Pran
-high school (45)
-post high-school, novitiate preparation (10)