Theme:
What values should Jesuit Alumni/ae and other people of faith bring to the 21st Century?
Venue:
University of Sydney, Sydney AUSTRALIA - 9-13 JULY 1997
WORLD CONGRESS OF JESUIT ALUMNI/AE
SYDNEY, 9 - 13 JULY 1997
The World Congress took place at St. Ignatius College Riverview in Sydney. With more than 350 participants from over 32 different countries, this Congress which was designed as a “Strategic” one, was a complete success. The organization and hospitality given by the Australian Alumni Association was excellent. We wish to extend our thanks and appreciation to all those involved in the organization of this Congress, but specially to Mr.John Bowie and his staff.
The Resolutions approved at this Congress are presented in this bulletin. We urge all Jesuit associations worldwide to adopt these resolutions and to report on the advancement of their actions to your World Council Delegate. We are sure that with decisive action from every association worldwide, we will be able to fulfill our aim of being “Men and Women for and with others”.
The active participation of the Associations, Federations and Confederations of Jesuit Alumni/ae is expected to make our universal movement a great power for improving the life of the most needy. We are privileged to have received an Ignatian education and we must be committed to share our good fortune with those in need.
As the new President of the World Union I would like to invite you to take action, as Father Kolvenbach requested us at the World Congress. We expect your reports in order to publish them regularly in the ETC bulletin. We also urge you to send articles of interest to be published for the benefit of other associations.
With my best wishes,
Fabio Tobón
WORLD UNION OF JESUIT ALUMNI/AE CONGRESS
Three hundred and fifty former students of Jesuit schools, colleges and universities from thirty-two countries on six the continents journeyed to Sydney, Australia to participate in the fifth congress of the World Union of Jesuit Alumni/ae, July 9-13. This marked the largest international representation in the history of these congresses.
In the presence of all delegates and all of the Jesuit Major Superiors of East Asia, Fr. General delivered the opening address noting that this was a “strategic” congress. He urged participants to use Ignatian criteria and values as they reflected upon their experiences of the past six years and planned for the future.
As alumni and alumnae of Jesuit schools, colleges, and universities, you are called by the Society of Jesus to be men and women who reflect upon the reality of the world around you with all its ambiguities, opportunities, and challenges in order to discern what is really happening in your lives and in the lives of others, to find God there and to discover where he is calling you, to employ criteria for significant choices that reflect Godly values rather than narrow, exclusive self-interest, to decide in light of what is truly for the greater glory of God and the service of those in need, and then to act accordingly.
Fr. Kolvenbach acknowledged the concrete actions for the poor taken by many alumni in fulfillment of their conmitment at the last World Union congress at Loyola in 1991.
In the years since the last World Congress, I have learned, in personal visits and by letters, of splendid action taken by Jesuit alumni to assist the poor by direct personal involvement with poor people, the aged, the sick, disabled, drug addicts, and a host of others who wait by the side of the road in total vulnerability for a Good Samaritan to bind their wounds lest they perish. Others haye made the effort to initiate friendships with refugees and other people who lack human recognition and love. This, too, is healing — healing of wounds often deeper than physical weaknesses. And still others among alumni and alumnae have seriously committed their professional skills to address, and at times to confront, legal, political, and social institutions and systems which work well only for the privileged. Medical experts among our alumni and alumnae have struggled to heal, to nourish the infirm, the hungry, the poor. Some of your national federations have twinned with less fortunate nations to bring effective hope through your service. All of these alumni and alumnae have in their own way responded to the call which Ignatius insists we must hear. They have taken their stand to build a world of understanding and healing love in service to those men, women, arid children who so need our service: “If you did it to one of my least brethren, you did it to me.”
And Fr. General suggested possible future steps for the World Union.
Among the strategies you will consider at this Congress, in light of new technologies for instant communication and increasing awareness of our relationships within the human family, would it be worthwhile to take up the possibility of twinning your associations or federations as a
policy of the World Union? Further, is it worthwhile now to make your voice heard as the World Union of jesuit alumni in the halls of international policy-making groups as well as international service agencies by becoming organized as a “non-governmental organization” of the United Nations?
Fr. William Byron, S.J., former President of tbe Catholic University of America and of Scranton University, delivered the keynote addressing the congress theme, “What Values Should Jesuit Alumni/ae Bring to the 2lst Century?” Describing Jesuit Education as “the Ppursuit of knowledge in service of the world”, he drew upon Ignatian values to develop four key themes: commitment, responsibility, the cultivation of virtues, and the convietion that life is lived well only when it is lived generously in the service of others.
International panels of alumni/ae addressed subthemes What values should Jesuit alumnilae bring: in family life, in corporate life, in government, for the marginalized, in education, in prayer life? The richness of responses and insights from many cultures stimulated group discussions and strategic planning for local alumni associations and national federations.
Among the resolutions adopted at this congress were confirmation and renewal of the summary resolution of the 1991 congress calling for programs of ongoing formation of alumni/ae, strengthening projects for the poor, and improved cooperation in mission with Jesuit provinces. In addition, calls for twinning relationships among alumni associations which can help both developing and developed partners in service to the poor, establishment of permanent relationships with the International Association of Jesuit Business Schools, to benefít from their work concerning ethical values in business today, and investigation of possibilities of obtaining NGO status with a voice for the poor in international bodies. A World Union of Jesuit Alumni/ae web page on the Internet has now been established to improve international communication and collaboration.
Mr. Fabio Tobon of Colombia was elected the new President of the World Union and Mr. Francois-Xavier Camenen of Luxemburg the new Executive Secretary. The next congress will be held in Calcutta, India in 2003.
By : Vincent Duminuco S.J.
WORLD CONGRESS BUSINESS MEETING REPORT
At the World Congress, the National Delegates and the Presidents of the Federations and Confederations of the World Union of Jesuit Alumni/ae held two meetings at St.Ignatius College on July 10 and 13, 1997. There were 24 voting delegates, representing 65 votes. The following are the main decisions taken at these Business meetings:
- In accordance with the decision approved at the World Congress 1991 in Loyola Bilbao, the modification of the Statutes of the World Union (art.7-9-13) and the electoral regulations (art.4-5) were ratified by unanimous vote. These modifications were announced by the President of the W.U. in the ETC bulletin (1/ 1997). The Statutes will be amended accordingly, printed and distributed before year´s end.
- The W.U. Executive Secretary´s report was approved unanimously. In this edition of ETC excerpts of this report are presented.
- The following annual contributions to the World Union were approved:
- From each Alumni/ae Association of Jesuit Universities: $ 200 US
- From each Alumni/ae Association of Jesuit High, Secondary or Technical Schools. $ 100 US.
- Mr. Fabio Tobón of Colombia was elected President of the World Union.
- Mr. Francois Xavier Camenen of Luxembourg was elected Executive Secretary
- A new World Union Council was elected. Its composition is the following:
| Africa |
Mr.Jean Toto Moukouo (Cameroun) |
| Mr.Sina Buraimoh Ademuyewo (Nigeria) |
| Europe |
Mr.Bernard A. W. Thompson (Great Britain) |
| Mr. Gianpaolo Marini (Italy) |
| Latin America |
Mr. Pedro Reis Lima Neto (Brazil) |
| Mr. José María Candioti (Argentina) |
| North America |
Mr.Ronald J. Ferreri (USA) |
| Mr. John Riley (USA) |
| South Asia |
Mr. M. Arumhi Raj (India) |
| Mr. Kalyan Chowdhury (India) |
| East Asia |
Mr. Kentaro Serita (Japan) |
| Middle East |
Vacant |
| Oceania |
Mrs. Robyn Traseder (Australia) |
- Calcutta, India was selected as the site for the next World Congress in the year 2003.
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE WORLD UNION OF
JESUIT ALUMNI(AE) AT THE WORLD CONGRESS - SYDNEY, 9 - 13 JULY 1997
We present herein some excerpts of Mr.Ciro Cacchione´s, Executive Secretary, Report to the World Congress.
Dear friends,
The report I submit to Your attention is mainly based on my experience as Executive Secretary of our World Union since the Loyola-Bilbao Congress of 1991.
We can reasonably accept that the World Union is still in a process of developing its evolution towards making effective, in the different realities, structures able to realize in an organic and programmed way, and in cooperation with the Fathers, concrete actions in favour of the poorest and the excluded from the society, in such a way that our personal service will give origin to a social humanism which in fact can contribute to the construction of a more human and more divine world.
Indeed during these past 6 years, throughout the national and intemational meetings, in the Loyola-Bilbao World Congress 1991, the Madras Indian Confederation Conference 1993, the Santiago, Chile and Quito, Ecuador, Latinoamerican Congresses 1993 and 1995, the Brussels and Oxford European Confederation Congresses 1993 and 1996, the creation of pilot-Associations Realization in the USA in 1993, the Panafrican Congress and the activities of the Arrupe Foundation, the steadily emerging guideline has been the search for a common strategy in order to transform the statements of principle into concrete actions, consistent in words and deeds (”deeds, not words”).
This Sydney Congress appears as a synthesis of years spent working in the same direction, and as a means for the definition of the strategies necessary for our organisation’s future evolution.
Modification of the Statutes and the By-Laws (see E.T.C. 1/97)
In the business meeting session of the World Congress of Loyola-Bilbao 1991, some decisions concerning the operating procedures of the Union were taken:
- Separating the role of President from that of organizer of the next Congress of the World Union of Jesuit Alumni(ae);
- Establishing a fixed location for the Secretariat of the World Union in order to facilitate communication with our membership
- Defining a sequence of rotation for the future World Congresses.
A vote of the elected Intemational Council of the World Union has approved the following sequence of venues for the future World Union Congresses: South Asia, Africa, Latin America, North America, Europe, East Asia.
The modifications of the Statutes which derive from the decisions of the Loyola-Bilbao Congress are proposed in this Sydney Congress for ultimate approval.
The conclusive motion of the Loyola-Bilbao Congress has defined the commitment of Alumni(ae) to require and realize a more reflective cooperation with the Fathers of the Society of Jesus in order to develop programs of ongoing education and service. Recent and past experiences have shown that it is possible to achieve the aims for which the World Union has been constituted through this cooperation above all.
To facilitate genuine cooperation, the President of the World Union, Mr. John Bowie, has suggested that the organizational structure of the World Union become parallel to that of the Society of Jesus. He suggests that Associations and Federations parallel provinces, and that the World Union Council structure parallel the Society’s Assistancies. This can assure that communication with Provincials and Jesuit Counsellors can become more functional to the benefit of all concemed.
Concerning_the definition of modalities and specific programs of cooperation between Fathers and Alumni(ae), in addition to the results that can be obtained by the statutory modification, much is expected to come out of this Congress’ work.
Main actions of the Secretariate
- Statutes and By-Laws publication and distribution to all the Associations
- Mailing of periodical letters 1992-93-94-95-96 (in E.T.C.)
- Interventions in intemational meetings
- Distribution of the Directory of Jesuit Educational Institutions
- Due only to the activity of the Delegate to the Father General, Father Vincent Duminuco, and to the fulfilment of the burden by the Society of Jesus, the editing-printing-mailing of the magazine E.T.C. has been made possible.
Objectives of the Secretariate
Among the defined objectives, the compilation and the distribution of a Directory of the Associations, Federations and Confederations existing in the world was requested.
Moreover the home page, in the three official languages, encloses Statutes, By-Laws and further news. A special thanks for his contribution in the realization of the web space and for data management is due to Mario Soavi of Milan.
Needless to say, the importance of this instrument which is going to enable not only the data collection, the possibility of completing the Directory and its real-time adjustment, but also an overall development in the communication of initiatives and experiences. This is going to become an important instrument for the achievement of our aims.
Financial resources of the World Union
Fixed, at Loyola-Bilbao 1991, the minimal dues for every local Association to belong to the World Union was set at $100 per Association per year. In the period 1991-1997 the World Union collected dues for a total amount of $5.200.
How are the funds raised from dues used?
Expenses of the Secretariate of the World Union
The expenses of the Secretariate’s activities concern mainly the following items:
- Statutes editing, letters etc…, Postal mailing, Telphone.
- fax, Secretary assistant (personal, part-time).
- Payment of membership dues to OMAAEEC (The World Union of All Catholic Alumni Associations); ($450 per year), Web space.
- The Executive Secretary’s travel expenses are not included in the costs (accordingly to the provisions of interior regulations of the Union).
In total the actual costs of the Secretariat for the period 1991-1997 have been $30.000(U.S.). The difference between expenses and dues actually paid has been fulfllled through voluntary contributions and so the Secretariat closes its activity without residual debt.
Estimated costs for future expenses of the World Union
The annual minimal estimate for the future expenses of running of the World Union are the
following:
| 1) |
Publication of E.T.C. (700 copies) (edition, translation,
printing in three languages and mailing of two issues per year) |
$ 7 000. |
| 2) |
Internet - Maintenance |
$ 500. |
| 3) |
Presidency expenses |
$ 5 000. |
| 4) |
Secretariate routine expenses |
$ 6 000. |
| 5) |
Membership dues to OMAAEEC |
$ 450. |
| TOTAL Expenses |
$ 18 950. |
Taking into account the economic status of different nations, the different types of Associations existing and the financial needs of the World Union, I propose that we ask the following annual contributions:
| from each Alumni(ae) Association of the Jesuit Universities |
$200(U.S.) |
| from each Alumni(ae) Association of the Jesuit High Schools/Secondary |
$100(U.S.) |
Allowing for the fact that some schools in very poor areas of the world will not be able to pay these dues, we expect that we will be able to raise approximately $20,000(U.S.) per annum to cover the World Union expenses.
What is to be done for the future
- To define an international configuration of the Secretariate, composed by members coming from different nations.
- To establish a stable editing staff for the publication of the magazine E.T.C.
- To define the legal status of the World Union
- To implement the policy of collection of the membership dues to the World Union to warrant stable financing.
Concluding wishes
I express the wish that the World Union becomes more and more an effective apostolic body put under the inspiration of Saint Ignatius for the service of others, ad maiorem Dei gloriam.
I thank you all.
Ciro Cacchione
World Union Executive Secretary
WELCOME TO CALCUTTA
“The following document was presented at the Congress in Sydney, by the Indian delegation after being choosen for the next World Congress in the year 2003″.
Those of you in the audience who have studied the history of the Society of Jesus will remember that the Jesuits first experimented with education not in Europe but, surprisingly enough, in India. Way back in the 1540s, soon after St. Francis Xavier set foot in Goa, then the capital of Portuguese India, he received an offer to run an existing school for Catholic boys set up near Bombay. In 1548, this school was renamed St. Paul’s College.
Inspired by reports of this school’s success, Ignatius of Loyola had already decided to work in the field of education. In 1546, he converted his seminary in Spain into a general college, and in 1548 founded the first Jesuit school in Europe for lay students in Sicily. But chronologically, these came after the historic school in India, which was the first in a long line of Jesuit institutions established in India. However, by the 18
th century virtually all of these had been forced to shut down due to religious differences or oppresion.
The second, modern phase of Jesuit education in India - and in Asia, for that matter - commenced in 1833 when the College of St. Francis Xavier opened as a small school in Calcutta. This marked the regeneration of the Jesuit movement in this part of the World. Subsequently, Institutions named after St. Joseph, St. Paul, St. Stanislas, St. Mary, St. Aloysius and St. Xavier blossomed all over India within the span of a few years.
It is, therefore, with an awareness of historical significance, a great sense of pride and a profound humility in the honour bestowed on us that I/we invite all delegates to the next Congress, to be held in Calcutta, India. Calcutta is still known as the cultural capital of India, where all communities have met and mingled. This is the home city of Mother Theresa. The city of Nobel Prize-winner Rabindranath Tagore, the scientist Jagadis Chandra Bose, the journalist Ramananda Chatterjee, the dramatist-actor-director Utpal Dutt, the present Chief Minister of West Bengal, Jyoti Basu - all of whom and many more, attended Jesuit schools in Calcutta - welcomes you in the year 2003.
WORD CONGRESS OF JESUIT ALUMNI/AE
Sydney, 9 - 13 July 1997
RESOLUTIONS
The World Congress of Jesuit Alumni/ae at its meeting in Sydney, resolves :
- To thank in a very special manner the Superior general of the Society of Jesus, Father Peter Hans Kolvenbach SJ, for his inaugural speech. This speech will be widely distributed among the different Associations/Federations wordwide to be used as a guide and inspiration for the work with the poor and marginalized.
- To congratulate the Australian Federation of Jesuit Alumni for their warm reception given to all the participants to this world congress and for the good organization given to the event. In the same way to thank Mr.John Bowie and his team of organizers for the excellent job done for this Congress.
- To thank those anonymous Australian alumni for their generous monetary contribution that allowed some participants from developing countries to attend this congress.
- To recognize the active and efficient participation of Father Vincent Duminuco, Delegate of the Father General to the World Union and that of Mr.Ciro Cacchione, Secretary of the World Union, whose contributions made possible the success of this congress.
- In order to promote more effective cooperation in joint service to others involving alumni/ae and Jesuits, to ensure that the organizational structure of the World Union of Jesuit Alumni/ae parallel the provincial and/or regional structures of the Society of Jesus wherever possible.
- In light of the decision of the Congress of Loyola-Bilbao of 1991 confirmed and established in the Statutes of the World Union Congress of Sydney of 1997, to separate the role of President of the World Union from that of organizer of the next world congress of this organization, that the role of the President of the World Union be clearly one of service . Specifically the President is to commit him/herself to:
- Encourage effective communication and cooperation among Jesuit alumni associations, federations and confederations.
- Be aware of the apostolic priorities of the Society of Jesus, and work with Father General’s Delegate to the World Union in promoting cooperation in achieving more effective service to others jointly.
- Work closely with the Executive Secretary and Secretariat in all phases of service.
- With the Executive Secretariat, publish and distribute the World Union newsletter “ETC” at least twice a year.
- Convene and direct the work of the World Council of the World Union.
- In consultation with Father General’s delegate to the World Union, facilitate twinning relationships among alumni associations which can help both the developing and developed partners in service to the poor. It is recommended that special attention be given to the requests from the African countries.
- Investigate the steps necessary and the feasibility of making the World Union of Jesuit Alumni/ae a non-governmental organization recognized by the United Nations. Then consult with the World Council concerning the advisability and concrete means necessary to move ahead.
- Represent the World Union of Jesuit alumni to OMAAEEC.
- That the World Union Secretariat be strengthened and communication between it and individual associations be improved. (Obviously this will mean getting finance.)
- That the World Union, through the Executive Secretary, establishes permanent relationships with the International Association of Jesuit Schools of Business Administration to benefit from the work concerning the ethical values of the Alumni/ae in today’s bussiness.
- That every Alumni/ae Association works to clearly express its values for the attention of its members, along with a plan to carry them out, and share it with other associations through its Federation. This interchange will enrich the work of the different associations.
- That the Associations/Federations report once a year to their World Union Delegate, the developments of their programs in favour of the poor and the marginalised in their region and worlwide. The Delegate will send a report to the Executive Secretariat of the World Union.
- That in order to fund the operations of the World Union and its services to its members, each high school / college association contributes $100 (U.S.) and each university association contributes $200 (U.S.) to its upkeep, and that in order to suggest progress for the marginalized each association encourage its members to contribute one dollar to the Pedro Arrupe Foundation.
- To confirm and renew the summary resolution of the World Union Congress in 1991, quoted below, as an ongoing set of objectives for the next six years.
- “Ongoing formation involving Ignatian discernment of the signs of the times and concrete service of others are essential to our lives and our work together. In order to move ahead in this area:
- Each Association should request that a qualified Jesuit Adviser be assigned to help the alumni both in ongoing formation and in identifying priority needs of the poor and/or refugees (consistent with the Province plans.)
- Each Alumni Association should adopt an apostolic project in which help for the poor and/or refugees is a necessary element. Thus, we recommend that each local Alumni Association sets up an action committee to plan and put into operation a concrete plan for service to the poor and refugees. We recommend that this service be undertaken in union with the Jesuit Province plan for pastoral/social action.”
Mother Theresa
Mother Theresa died on September 5. She was a great example of a life lived “for others” and dedicated to the most needed. Mother Theresa gave mankind an example of courage and care that we at our Alumni Associations must follow in order to fulfill our commitment to the poorest in our societies.
At E.T.C. we would like to pay our respects to Mother Theresa and our sorrow to those in Calcutta.
Presentation
