By Fannie Dionne The call to religious life is not the only vocation to which one can aspire. For Norbert Piché, director of the Jesuit Refugee Service – Canada, his vocation is to accompany, and be accompanied by, persons who are refugees. His story is one of great trust in God and of working to …
Christ, Compassion and Accompaniment: The Vocation of Norbert Piché Read More »
Par Clara Atallah It is hard to imagine the trials that the Lebanese people have endured in recent years. In 2019, a political crisis and a wave of insurrections paralyzed the land of the cedars. The country had already been hit hard by a devastating economic crisis and a sharp devaluation of the Lebanese pound, …
Lebanese Jesuits tend the invisible wounds of the Lebanese people Read More »
By MegAnne Liebsch Growing up on Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Rosella Kinoshameg didn’t understand the Catholic Masses she attended each Sunday. This was pre-Vatican II, and the priest still faced away from the congregation, reciting the Mass in Latin. All readings and hymns were transcribed in English, not her native Ojibwe. Except for a few Ojibwe …
“We have a voice” : Repairing the relationships with Indigenous peoples Read More »
By Rachel Moccia A symphony of voices and footsteps echoed in the hallowed halls of the Martyrs’ Shrine, as over 12,000 souls with diverse beliefs journeyed together in pilgrimage. Among them, a young Tamil Canadian, Raj Vijayakumar, would find himself ensnared in a divine dance of accompaniment that would ultimately lead him to the Jesuits. …
From “no” to “yes”: The story of Raj Vijayakumar Read More »
By Erik Oland, SJ It has been a while since I wrote a piece for Companions about the experience of one of my formal visitations. That is, the Provincial spends much of his time on the road visiting regions of the province and meeting with Jesuits and partners in order to gauge the pulse of …
Hope Amidst Chaos: A Reflection on the Jesuits’ Enduring Impact in Haiti Read More »
In 2008, when former Pope Benedict XVl was photographed with Jesuits assembling from around the world in Rome, a man was seen in the background looking like he had organized the entire event. It wasn’t far from the truth. Then, beloved Canadian Jesuit Brother Art White was in fact assisting with General Congregation 35, a …
Businessman and philanthropist Gregory Belton has received a slew of prestigious acknowledgments and mixed with the likes of global leaders and Royals, yet he still carries with him values learned from his years at Jesuit-established Brebeuf College. “Jesuits are known for placing a strong emphasis on equality and social justice,” says Belton, who graduated from …
The crisis in Haiti affects individuals, communities, and the entire Haitian people. In the first article of this series, the Superior of the Jesuits in Haiti explained how the crisis also affects his confreres and Ignatian works. In this article, Father Ambroise Gabriel, SJ, coordinator of the social sector in Haiti, describes how the situation …
“The last four years have been extremely difficult, and the situation continues to be very difficult.” Political turmoil, violence, and now kidnappings have been a daily occurrence in Haiti over the past years. Western countries, including Canada, are well aware of this crisis that affects the Haitian people as a group and as individuals. In …
In recent weeks, we have been reflecting on the gathering that brought together many members of the province at Pilgrims Together: A Joyful Gathering with Ignatius of Loyola, held in Midland last July. This article will highlight the elements that emerged from the various testimonies, in light of the province’s document on apostolic discernment. This …