The Magazine of St Aloysius' College • 'Men for Others' • Issue XLVII ...

from the rector
Changes of Batons
Early this year, more than two hundred Jesuits from all
the Provinces and Regions around the world attended
the Thirty-Fifth General Congregation of the Society of
Jesus. For the first time in the Society’s history, a Superior
General was allowed by the Holy Father to retire in office.
Fr Peter Hans Kolvenbach SJ became General in 1983
and although the previous Pope had refused his requests to
be allowed to resign, Pope Benedict has finally acceded.
Rules governing the election of a General are very strict:
there is to be no politicking, no promotion of candidates,
no advocacy or electioneering. Delegates are allowed
only to seek opinions of others by questioning. No one is
to offer advice or opinion unless it is solicited. Here prayer
replaces pundits and pollsters. But as is usually the case,
the successor to Fr Kolvenbach was elected by majority on
the first ballot. The Holy Spirit is, of course, a central part
of the caucusing!
Elected to this office on 20 January was Fr Adolfo
Nicolás SJ, now styled Admodum Reverendus Pater Noster,
(ARPN) “Our Very Reverend Father”. “Nico”, as he has
been affectionately known, would instinctively shy away
from such fuss. Born in Palencia, Spain, Fr General is 71
years old. But he is a very young 71 year-old, certainly in
mentality and vision. He exudes energy. He is full of questions
and ideas. He has a lively and engaging personality and
his style is self-deprecating and straightforward – that of a
man in conversation with his equals. Fr Nicolás is known
to a number of our schools people in this Province. Twice
he has been invited as keynote speaker to conferences of
teachers from our Jesuit schools in Asia. Last year he led a
conference for school Council members which
I attended with our Chair of Council and
its Deputy. He was impressive. As a
result of such a wonderful input, we
were planning to bring him to our
Province. That seems unlikely now!
Though Spanish by birth, the
young Adolfo Nicolás went to
the international mission in Japan
where he studied theology and
was ordained in Tokyo. Studies
followed at the Gregorian
University, Rome. In 1971
he became professor of
theology at the Sophia
University in Tokyo and
remained in this position
for many years. From
1978 he was the
Director of the East
Asian Pastoral
Institute in Manila,
the Philippines, for
seven years. In
ARPN Adolfo Nicolás SJ, twenty-ninth successor to St Ignatius Loyola.
1991 he became Rector of the scholasticate in Tokyo, and
was then Provincial of Japan from 1993-1999. When he
completed this term, he spent three years working in a poor
immigrant parish in Tokyo. From 2004 to now he has been
President of the Conference of Provincials in this part of the
Jesuit world.
He is wise, and a fine theologian. Nine years ago
he was the peritus (theological advisor) to the Japanese
Bishops at the Synod of Asian Bishops in Rome and spoke
of the needs of the Church in Asia. Some Vatican officials
were surprised during the Synod when the Japanese
bishops and many other participants urged the Vatican to
demonstrate greater respect for their knowledge of their
local languages and cultures, particularly when it came to
approving the translation of liturgical texts and aspects of
local culture in Catholic prayer. At the time, the Jesuits had
wanted to name Fr Nicolás the Rector of his alma mater,
the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, but his name
was withdrawn in the wake of his “progressive” contribution
to the Synod discussions. But now, as General, he returns
as the university’s ex officio Chancellor! I am sure God
enjoys these little ironies.
Closer to home, we have our own changing of the
guard. Fr General has just announced that Fr Stephen Curtin
St Aloysius’ College
A Jesuit School for Boys _ Founded 1879
aloysiad / page 2