Special to the Herald
Calling up fond college memories, finding old friends among an array
of school pennants, making new friends through shared experiences and, in one
case, reconnecting with a former eighth grade teacher.
These were just some of the encounters that made the “Jesuit Friends
and Partners” — a first-time event that gathered alumni from Jesuit schools,
members of Jesuit parishes, attendees of Jesuit retreats, and just plain old
friends of Jesuits, April 22, in the Manoa Ballroom of the Japanese Cultural
Center — such a great success.
More than a hundred people joined the lively afternoon reception,
drawn by past Jesuit encounters from here to the Philippines and, of course, at the
host of Jesuit campuses of higher learning across the mainland.
Highlighting the afternoon was the video premier of “A Snapshot of
Jesuit Ministry in Hawaii” featuring the work
of the Catholic campus ministry at the University
of Hawaii’s NewmanCenter.
In the video, students offered candid testimonies about the importance of the
ministry.
Guest speaker Jesuit Father John LeVecke described his order’s work
with Christian life communities — faith-sharing groups formed through the
Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius to discern the journey that God is calling
one to.
One purpose of the reception was to initiate future personal Jesuit
enrichment through the NewmanCenter — the heart and home of Hawaii’s Jesuit connections and a unique
source for Ignatian spirituality. The center estimates that there are several
thousand island residents with Jesuit connections.
Two follow-up events are being planned, a workshop on “Decision Making
through Ignatian Discernment” and a “Retreat for Busy People.” For information
about these and future activities, contact Catharine Low at 808-988-6222 or
Catharine@newmanhawaii.org.
To get on the mailing list, contact Soane Uiagalelei at soane@newmanhawaii.org.
Catholic Campus Ministry/Newman Center is an apostolate of The
California Province of the Society of Jesus on behalf of the Diocese of
Honolulu. It is located at the University
of Hawaii at Manoa at 1941 East-West Road; phone, 808-988-6222; website,
www.newmanhawaii.org.