Sharing 2014: International Conference on Ignatian Spirituality

The conference was organized by Xavier House Hong Kong and the topic was “An Ignatian Pilgrimage: From Personal Interiority to Shared Apostolic Vision.”  It was held at School Hall of Wahyan College Hong Kong on November 28 – 1 December 2014.   560 delegates from several countries attended the conference e.g. from Hong Kong, mainland China, Macau, The Philippines, Australia and Taiwan.
There was simultaneous translation into Putonghua and Cantonese for the delegates.  Several workshops were given in Putonghua.

There were two plenary sessions in the morning, 9 or 11 selection workshops and Mass in the afternoon besides morning prayer, examen, personal reflection or spiritual conversation.

The topic for the first day plenary session was “St. Ignatius as a Pilgrim of Supreme Reality,” which was given by Fr. Javier Melloni, S.J.  I attended the workshop on "Tasting the First Spiritual Exercise," which was given by The Australian National FSE Team.  Cardinal John Tong was the main celebrant for the opening Mass.

The topic for the second day plenary session was “The Spirit in the time: History of Ignatian Spirituality,” which was given by Fr. Jose Garcia, S.J.  I didn’t attend the second day conference as our community had a memorial mass for Sr. Rose Duschesne, MM, Sr. Agnes Cazale, MM, Sr. Agnes Christine, MM, Sr. Elizabeth Lee, MM and Sr. Bernadine Remedios, MM.  The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Bill Galvin, MM followed by community dinner.

The topic for the third day plenary session was “Ignatian Spirituality as a Way of Living for All,” which was given By Fr. Cecil Azzopardi, SJ followed by Dr. Marlene Marburg.  I had a chance to talk with Fr. Michael Hansen, SJ who adapted the First Spiritual Exercise in his book “the First Spiritual Exercise: Four Guided Retreats” during lunch time.  He even gave the book as a gift.  I attended the workshop “Transformational Leadership and the Two Standards and Discernment,” which was given by Mrs. Bernadette Miles. 

The topic for the last day plenary session was “Ignatian Legacy: The Dynamic of Discernment,” which was given by Fr. Monty Williams, SJ followed by Mrs. Bernadette Miles.  There was closing forum to answer the questions from the delegates after lunch.  I had a chance to talk with Fr. Cecil Azzopardi, SJ after the closing forum.       

Several alumnae of Maryknoll Chinese Sisters Program attended this conference too.  It was a very well organized conference and a very good time for me to prepare for Advent Season.  Here is the link about the conference:  http://xavier.ignatian.net/html/ic2014/

Hong Kong, December 3, 2014

         

Sr. Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.

Let’s do simple things with simple love to make God’s love visible