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Media coverage of Fr General’s visit

coverageThe visit of Fr General Adolfo Nicolás last week attracted considerable media attention at both national and local level. In the lead-up, Nick Cuddihy, headmaster of Crescent College, was interviewed by Limerick Live 95 News about plans for the visit to the college. The Limerick Leader gave extensive coverage to that visit, and in a later edition they ran an article about Fr Nicolás launching the Jesuit Refugee Centre annual report. The Irish Times also carried the story of the launch. The Irish Catholic had an exclusive interview with Fr Nicolás, which they illustrated with a good number of photos. Two papers which went for the local angle were the Leitrim Observer, which had a photo of Jesuit scholastic Eddie Cosgrove, from Drumahair, with Fr Nicolás in Milltown, and the Fermanagh Herald, which carried a shot of local boy Brendan McManus SJ with the Father General in Limerick.

Added Wednesday 23 September 2009 :: Category: General ::

Father General: Inclusive, global and charged with love

sup_gen_first_01You know charism when you encounter it. After four days in the company of the charismatic Adolfo, the Irish Jesuits and their partners in mission are elated and energised. Paradoxically, Fr Nicolás would not want his charism to be the focus of our memories. A recurring theme of his talks and homilies was that the ego – including his ego – has to be left behind if growth is to happen. Speaking of the multiple works and missions of the Irish Jesuits, he asked: “How many deaths were there, to make all this blossoming possible?” - and under deaths he included all the disappointments, partings, failures, and pains that lie hidden in that history. The abiding impression he leaves is upbeat: of an outreach that is inclusive, global and charged with love.

Added Tuesday 15 September 2009 :: Category: General ::

Saturday in Milltown

sup_gen_milltown_01The gathering of Jesuits for the five o’clock Mass in Milltown was an event in itself, because the brethren were greeting friends they had not seen for perhaps twenty years, and they were praying in the chapel in which most of them had been ordained priests. They were lifted by the Missa de Angelis and modern hymns from the strong, sweet voices of the Gonzaga choir. Mass was prayerful, focussed on the Lord, not on performers. Fr Nicolás’ homily, in Ignatian terms, stressed the First Week of the Exercises, and the deaths and sacrifices that nurture growth. Later, after dinner, his answers to questions covered Jesuit identity, collaboration with lay partners, and relations with ex-Jesuits  – “two of my brothers, he said, are ex-Jesuits!”

Added Tuesday 15 September 2009 :: Category: General ::

Warm welcomes up North

sup_gen_belfast_01Sunday 13th. After the mass in Gardiner Street and the reception in Belvedere, Father General took the road north to Belfast. A keen observer of the reality around him, by the time the car reached Newry he was ready to ask where the place called ‘Amach’ was and why it was signposted at every off-ramp on the motorway. In his talk in the Connor Theatre at the University of Ulster he acknowledged the presence of the many people who have welcomed the Jesuits to Portadown, Belfast and Armagh over the years. When he spoke from his text he acknowledged the great range of commitments of Jesuits and their friends in the North: spiritual, theological, social, cultural, ecumenical, to dialogue, to reconciliation, etc. Read more »

Added Tuesday 15 September 2009 :: Category: General ::

A great Gardiner Street welcome

sup_gen_gardiner_01A huge congregation turned up in Gardiner St  Church on Sun, Sept 13th to welcome Fr General Adolfo Nicolas,  leader of  the Jesuits, on his first visit to a parish in Ireland. Parish Priest Donal Neary SJ spoke of how much the visit meant to the local parishioners and Fr John Dardis SJ Irish Provincial thanked all those present on this historic occasion, parishioners, family and friends of Jesuits ’ for their goodness and ongoing support to the Jesuits in Ireland.” Fr Nicolas in his homily spoke of how the language of the Gospel is deep and paradoxical, speaking to the heart as well as the head, in contrast to  the ‘flat ‘, one-dimensional language of ordinary conversation.” Read more »

Added Monday 14 September 2009 :: Category: General ::

“Creativity, daring and great humility”

supgen_gonzaga_01‘Jesuit  mission today’ was the issue addressed by Fr Adolfo Nicolas SJ, when he spoke to his fellow Jesuits, their co-workers and colleagues, in Gonzaga College on Sat Sept 12th. In his introduction to the Jesuit Fr General’s talk, Irish Provincial John Dardis SJ told those gathered that there were unprecedented challenges facing the Irish Church today. “But we all can make a difference if we respond to those challenges with creativity , discernment and courage”. Fr Nicolas outlined some of the challenges such as rapid change in technology and communications, globalisation  and a rise in xenophobia, a pluralism that some choose to intepret as there being no absolutes, and a spreading decline in the influence of relgious belief . Read more »

Added Sunday 13 September 2009 :: Category: General ::

Fr General launches JRS annual report

sup_gen_jrs_01“There are no such things as migrants or refugees”, said Fr General Adolfo Nicolas, “only people. And the lines and borders on maps are only lines, not reality” He was speaking at the launch im Limerick of  the Jesuit Refugee Service’s annual report on Friday Sept 11th.  He praised the staff of the JRS  for their continuing dedication to accompanying and serving those who had come to Ireland from far-flung countries in search of refuge and asylum. He also voiced his concern at the growing trend in many European countries to close off their borders and lock their doors to strangers seeking help. Read more »

Added Saturday 12 September 2009 :: Category: General ::

Fr General in Gonzaga

Father Adolfo Nicolas SJ visited Gonzaga College Dublin on the morning of Saturday 12 September 2009 and was greeted by the headmaster Mr Kevin Whirdy, the Superior of the Gonzaga Jesuit Community Myles O Reilly SJ, and the Partners and Mission delegate Ms Deirdre Soffe. In the college, Fr Nicolas met with members of the Ignatian family and with the Directors of Chairs and boards.  Read more »

Added Saturday 12 September 2009 :: Category: General ::

‘Education is trouble!’: Fr Nicolás in Crescent

sup_gen_crescent_01Quoting Zorba, in the film ‘Zorba the Greek’,  Fr Adolfo  Nicolás told the staff, pupils, Jesuits and colleagues of Crescent College Comprehensive Limerick  that “Life is trouble!” He then added: “And the same is true of education – education is trouble, as you know!” Preaching at Mass in the college to mark its 150th anniversary, Fr Adolfo, in a sermon which was both moving and amusing, held the attention of a packed assembly hall as he spoke about the core Christian truth that there is no human growth without suffering, no resurrection without the cross. Read more »

Added Friday 11 September 2009 :: Category: General ::

Fr General in Crescent College Limerick

Fr Adolfo Nicolas SJ, Fr General of the Jesuits, arrived this morning in Crescent College Comprehensive Limerick, to a guard of hounour from school pupils lined along the driveway. He was warmly greeted by Nick Cuddihy, Headmaster, and by the staff and school captains. His warm and relaxed manner soon put everyone at ease. He is currently on a tour of the classrooms, talking to students and brushing up on his Irish! Crescent College Comphrhensive is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, and Fr Nicolas’ visit is the highlight of their celebrations.

Added Friday 11 September 2009 :: Category: General ::

Head of Jesuits visits Ireland for first time

The Father Superior of the Jesuits worldwide will make his first ever trip to Ireland this week. Fr Adolfo Nicolás will meet with Jesuits, their colleagues and friends in Dublin, Limerick and Belfast from Friday Sept 11th until Tuesday, September 15th. Since his election to the lifetime job, Father Adolfo has visited Jesuits and their colleagues in many parts of the world.  He is optimistic about the future of the Church and of his own Order, both of which are increasing in numbers outside their traditional European bases. Read more »

Added Thursday 10 September 2009 :: Category: General ::