By Eric Mwaniki, SJ
“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forward,” a Danish philosopher noted. For the Society of Jesus, the De Status serves as an examination of “the moment in which the Society of Jesus is now.” Consequently, St. Peter Canisius Scholasticate went further to reflect on the reality of the Society in our monthly recollection. This time round, the recollection took place on Feb 24th and 25th and was animated by Fr. Hervé Kanziama, SJ. His invitation was to reflect deeply on the fourth chapter of the De Status Societatis Iesu which treats ‘The necessary tensions in our life-mission.’
Fr. Kanziama, SJ noted the reality of the tensions that are underlined in the document which include “Being and doing, contemplation and action, prayer and living prophetically, being totally united to Christ and completely inserted in the world…” Citing examples from real life situation in our community and in the universal Society, he developed the perspectives highlighted in the De Status. Moreover, he shared about the challenges that the current generation faces in the Society, giving an example of the impact of social media to community life. The recollection was also inspired by the writings of Fr. Wilfrid Okambawa, SJ Les béatitudes: le médicament pour le bonheur in which he treats the beatitudes, among them poverty, and how they play an educational value in our daily life.
During the silence of the evening and early morning Sunday, scholastics took time with God, and with the help of various Bible verses, to recollect and listen to the movements of the spirit. In the morning, the fruits of prayer were shared amongst each other in the view of relishing the prayer. The recollection was then crowned by Sunday mass by the animator followed by festive dinner in the community.
Besides all that, we have started the second semester this week and we hope that it will be fruitful.
