By Fr. James Spillane, SJ
Greetings from Boston where we ended our heat wave with temperatures in the 90s F. We continue to have sunny and cooler days. It has been great for all the normal summer activities in Boston. The professional basketball team – the Boston Celtics- just won their 18th championship. Fortunately, I was able to watch all the games on the Final Series on television. There was a huge victory parade on Friday June 12 in downtown Boston.
There were more activities of interest on the Boston College campus recently. One was an international symposium on Jesuit Studies with 85 participants from around the world. Boston College has a special Institute on the History of the Jesuits. I attended the session that included a paper on the use of movies by Italian Jesuit High School in 1940-1960 to teach morality to students. Another paper was on Jesuits teaching in High Schools in Latin America [Chile, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia] in 1950 -1960. Many of these teachers were young Jesuits in the middle of their training between Philosophy and Theology studies.
It is great to have an opportunity to read all day long. The Limits of Hospitality [2012] talks about how we need balance in receiving guests. Sometimes we need to consider the consequences for third parties when we receive guests. A balance in the relationship between the host and the guest is needed. Encountering the Stranger [2012] dwells on the difficulties of being hospitable in a world that is so divided ideologically and politically. Each religious’ tradition has a distinct understanding of the stranger and “other” people. There is a great need to bridge these differences and create greater harmony in our world.
Our five Tanzanian students in the Magister Management in International Tourism [MMIT] program had a special Graduation Ceremony before returning to Tanzania on June 20, 2024. Their graduation party included some 60 people. The hotels where they did their Practical Internship Programs [PIP] also gave them a farewell party. It is a miracle that this first batch was able to complete their program on time. There were lots of logistics involved. It was a great learning experience.
There was a funeral Mass at the Retirement Centre for Jesuit [Campion Centre] for Fr. Richard Stanley. He died on the 50th anniversary of his ordination. He worked in Spiritual Direction and giving retreats. It was a good opportunity to meet many life-long Jesuit friends. Mr. Maris Fravel, his son Taylor and daughter-in-law Anne came for a brunch at a nearby restaurant in Newton Centre. Maris came for the Elementary School graduation of his granddaughter at the famous Manor School in Brookline. Taylor is a professor of Political Science at MIT and an expert on China.
The high point on the social schedule was the Baptism ceremony of my great grandniece Lillian Grace Tracy on June 22nd. The service was held at St. Mary’s Church in Holliston [a Boston suburb] near where her parents [niece Kerry Ann Morse and nephew-in-law Jon Tracy] live. A German friend now living in Michigan also attended. It was a huge gathering of the extended family and a great source of joy. What a blessing!
Be assured of my thoughts and prayers. Be sure to enjoy some leisure activities this summer.
