Fr Arturo Sosa SJ, the Venezuelan-born Superior-General of the Society of Jesus, visited Australia and Timor-Leste during January and February, with his Australian trip taking in Jesuit communities in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.

A significant part of his trip was participating in the Jesuit Conference of Asia-Pacific (JCAP) Major Superiors Assembly from January 22 to 26 at Peter Canisius House in Sydney, where JCAP Superiors gathered for fruitful discussions and reflections on their mission.

*Jesuit Superior-General Fr Arturo Sosa SJ speaks at a Jesuit Mission event during his visit to Australia. PHOTO: Giovanni Portelli/Catholic Weekly.*

In between, Fr General Sosa met with Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP and engaged with benefactors of Jesuit Mission Australia, as well as Jesuits and partners. A visit to the city would not be complete without a boat tour of the iconic Sydney Harbor, followed by a barbecue dinner.

Moving to Melbourne on January 28, Fr Sosa had private conversations with local Jesuits. He also met with Archbishop Peter A. Comensoli, visited Jesuit Social Services, and partook in gatherings at Xavier College, fostering connections with both Jesuit and lay collaborators.

His journey continued to Adelaide with a stop at Sevenhill, the birthplace of the Jesuits in Australia, where he engaged in conversations with South Australian Jesuits. He met with Archbishop O’Regan before participating in a Jesuit and lay gathering at the Mary Glowrey Centre at St Ignatius College.

Among the many gatherings he attended during his visit, Jesuit Mission Australia welcomed Fr Sosa, his Jesuit companions from Rome, and the Jesuit Major Superiors from across Asia-Pacific, to share an intimate evening of gratitude and friendship with some of Jesuit Mission Australia’s long-term and loyal supporters.

“You are part of the family of the Society of Jesus. Not because of what you give, but because of who you are. Because what you are giving is your own life, your own heart,” said Fr Sosa.

The evening consisted of a panel session where the Jesuit Major Superiors from Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand and Timor-Leste shared heartfelt stories of impact and updates from the ground, on the life-changing global outreach made possible thanks to the generosity of Australian Catholic supporters.

Led by the CEO of Jesuit Mission Australia, Helen Forde, the panel was a great way for supporters, from Sydney, Broken Bay and Paramatta dioceses and some who travelled from Melbourne and Adelaide archdioceses, to hear from the Major Superiors and Fr. Sosa, followed by opportunities for supporters to engage and meet in person.

“It was an evening of great joy and encouragement, a reminder of the positive change we make when we collaborate and uplift our sisters and brothers in need together,” said Ms Forde.

Fr. Sosa is the 31st Superior General of the Society of Jesus, the largest religious order of priests and brothers in the Catholic Church. As only the third Father General to visit Australia in the history of the Jesuits, it was a truly memorable occasion for the Jesuit Mission Australia family to hear directly from the Father General as he shared a message of thanks and offered a special blessing.

“The Society of Jesus cannot exist, cannot have a long history as it has without your generosity, without those who support, who have been partners in this mission. So from the grateful heart of the whole Society of Jesus, especially from the Australian, Asian, part of our universal body, and in your name, I ask the Lord for abundant blessings… May the Lord bless each of you, your families, your intentions. May you be blessed with good health and interior strength so that we can encourage one another in doing God’s work,” he said.

Fr Sosa expressed the importance of all working together as one Church.

“I want to insist that the mission does not belong to Jesuits. The Lord called all of us. All of us are called to that mission together for the same mission. Even though we have different ways of fulfilling … we need to help each other so that we, the Jesuits, and you our friends in Jesuit Mission Australia can work together to fulfil the mission entrusted to us by God and the Church.”

On February 2, Fr Sosa flew to Timor-Leste, where he visited the various Jesuit missions, and met with local Church and civic authorities.

This article is drawn from an article published on the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific and an article from Jesuit Mission Australia, published in Catholic Outlook.

For more on Fr Arturo Sosa’s visit, see the Jesuit Australia website and the Catholic Weekly’s report of his visit to Sydney.