FR GENERAL SOSA VISITS THE COLLEGE
Tuesday, 27 February 2024
In Janaury, the Very Rev. Arturo Sosa SJ, Superior General of The Society of Jesus visited the College to concelebrate mass in the Dalton Chapel and then have the opportunity to meet members of the Riverview Community afterwards in the Ramsay Hall. It was fitting that our own Fr Tom Renshaw was on hand to officially welcome Fr General and show him around the school campus.
 
Following the celebration of the Eucharist, Fr Sosa addressed members of the Riverview Community in Ramsay Hall and engaged with questions from nine representatives of various Sydney based Jesuit ministries. The evening concluded with a reception.

In his address, Fr Sosa emphasised the importance of Jesuit collaboration with our lay partners in mission, helping to bring to fruition the vision of a synodal church as envisaged by the Second Vatican Council. An important aspect of this is the ongoing formation of both Jesuits and our lay partners in mission. 

Some of the topics that were explored with Fr Sosa in the question and answer session that followed included: 

•    The role of schools with respect to catechesis and evangelization given the disconnection many Catholics experience with their local parish communities;
•    In what ways can we best accompany young people as they make the transition to early adulthood;
•    How can our schools, and in particular our graduates, help address the growing inequalities across the world;
•    How can we best promote and implement synodal models of pastoral ministry in the local church;
•    What are the modern expressions of the creativity and newness in Jesuit ministries that were so characteristic of St Ignatius and his early companions:
•    With the declining number of Jesuits, what is the role of the laity in the future of the Society of Jesus; 
•    How are the Jesuits responding to caring for our common home, especially with our commitment to fossil fuel free investment portfolios; and 
•    How can we continue to deepen our collaboration with Jesuit Refugee service as they seek to accompany, serve and advocate some of the most vulnerable people in our world.

The January visit was Fr General's first to Australia and included events in Sydney and Melbourne before he flew out to visit Timor L'este on his way back to Rome.
 
EDITOR