News and Views from Arrupe House Jesuit Tertianship Sri Lanka

 The first time I learned about the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus was during my Novitiate from 2002 to 2004. Throughout this period, our Novice Master encouraged us to engage with Part VI of the Constitutions: The Personal Life of Those Admitted and Incorporated into the Body of the Society. I did not comprehend much regarding the structure of the Constitutions or the content of each chapter. Nevertheless, I loved the Society and aspired to become a Jesuit because I experienced a model of holiness through our Master’s life. Like a compassionate father, he cared for and cherished me and my fellow novices. He was the one who brought me to life spiritually, guiding me to encounter Jesus through the Spiritual Exercises and connecting me to the life and mission of the Society through the reception of the Constitutions. Twenty years after my first vows in the Society, I rediscovered the Constitutions during my Tertianship in Sri Lanka. I realized that the Constitutions are a gift...

  The flower that blossoms in the  tranquillity of the night undergoes a profound interior transformation in silence, unseen by the world. In the stillness of the night, the flower unfolds its petals and shares its essence through the fragrance, touching every passerby without discrimination. People are attracted to this fragrance and cherish the flower's beauty and serene presence. Though the greatest transformations often happen in silence, the fruits of those transformations, like the fragrance of the flower, have the power to reach and impact the world. St. Ignatius of Loyola experienced a profound interior blossoming in the stillness and solitude of Manresa cave. This period of silence awakened him spiritually and allowed him to encounter God deeply and intimately. This transformative experience enabled him to emerge with the gift of Spiritual Exercises, a tool that carries the essence of his interior journey. As the fragrance of a flower brought by the breeze, the Spir...

  MY MONTH-LONG IGNATIAN EXPERIMENT During my Tertianship, I had the privilege of spending a month at St. Joseph’s Home for the Elderly in Balangoda as part of my Ignatian experiment in December 2024. The home is run by the Holy Angels Congregation, an order founded by Rt. Rev. Joseph Van Reeth S.J., the first Bishop of Galle. Established in 1903, this Indigenous Catholic congregation is committed to serving underprivileged communities in Sri Lanka. This connection provided a sense of continuity and depth to my Jesuit experience journey. St. Joseph’s Home accommodates 55 elderly residents, supported by ten staff members and four dedicated sisters from the congregation. While the home primarily serves elders, only five of the residents were significantly ill or incapacitated. The majority remain primarily independent, managing their daily needs with minimal assistance. Attached to the home is a parish serving 650 families, with 15 substations under the care o...

The JCSA-JCAP international tertianship began with abundant blessings and positivity on 1 September 2024. Twelve tertians and three instructors embarked on their journey from Chennai International Airport to Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo on 31 August 2021. Fr. William Sequeira, the outgoing tertian instructor, joined Fr. Donald Miranda and Fr. Sajeev, the current tertian instructors to give a good kick-start to the programme and form a solid foundation for it. Two Vietnamese and two Europeans (a Pole and an Irish) had also arrived in Colombo a couple of days ago. The entire group gathered outside the airport, where tired but eager faces expressed their enthusiasm for getting to know one another. Fr. Sachintha, the minister of the house, arranged a bus to journey to the Arrupe House, which was about a four-hour journey from the airport. A brief stopover at a motel rejuvenated the group before continuing their journey. The international tertianship programme is housed at ...

The journey to Batticaloa through the mountains was nothing short of a spiritual experience, each turn revealing the hand of the Creator in nature's wonders. It felt as though we were traveling not merely across the landscape but deep into the heart of beauty itself, where every moment held the grace of divine creation. The sun’s gentle rays kissed the lush crowns of pine trees, transforming them into a spectacle of light that spoke of sacred wonder. As I gazed out the window, I found myself in a kind of moving meditation, my soul uplifted by the breathtaking views—nature whispering its hymns to me through each mountain, each valley. The majestic mountains stood as symbols of strength and resilience, while the valleys held a crystal-clear river, flowing gently as if carrying with it the peace of the heavens. Its waters mirrored the blue sky and the vibrant green of the earth, creating a perfect harmony that filled...

KANDY makes a BRAND ‘ Y OU’ In the contemplative haven of Arrupe House in Kandy, individuals embark on an immersive journey of self-discovery and spiritual enrichment, where the qualities of authenticity, fellowship, and service converge to shape the essence of the brand 'YOU.' 1. K oinoia Moment – Cultivating Fellowship: Within the sacred confines of Tertianship, I have delved deep into the essence of koinonia , guided by the wisdom of seasoned Tertian’s Novice masters and the warmth of companionship. Here, amidst the tapestry of diverse life stories and shared aspirations, our collective love for the marginalized fuels our bond, igniting a flame of compassion and solidarity that transcends mere camaraderie. In both collective endeavors and intimate relationships, the spirit of koinonia flourishes, offering unwavering support and guidance through life's myriad challenges and triumphs. 2. A gape Moment – Nurturing Love: As we gather in the school of the heart, we c...