For the first time after his election the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Rev. Fr. Arturo Abascal Sosa, SJ, along with his Assistants- Fr. Lisbert D’Souza, SJ, Fr. Vernon De Cunha, SJ and Fr. Thomas Kotz, SJ, visited Jesuits in Delhi. They were received at the IGI airport by the Provincial of the Delhi Province Fr. Sebastian Jeera, SJ, the Province Development Director (PDD) Fr.K.P.George, SJ and the Superior of the Sahayog Fr. John Chathanat, SJ besides some Jesuits from VidyaJyoti College of Theology, Delhi at 1:45 am on February 18, 2017. The warm hearted and cheerful Fr. Arturo mingled with everyone freely in Sahayog, St. Xavier’s and in Vidya Jyoti College and he addressed them at different times. He concelebrated the Holy Eucharist with the Archbishop of Delhi Rt. Rev. Anil J.T. Couto, who ordained 23 Jesuit deacons at 3:00 pm on the same day. His hectic day was concluded with an address to all Jesuits in Delhi and encouraged them to carry on with more vigour in the Mission of Christ. He drew the attention of all Jesuits gathered towards the precious decrees of the recently concluded General Congregation 36. He emphasized that the MISSION OF RECONCILIATION AND JUSTICE, is the task given to the entire Society by GC 36 of which we are COMPANIONS placed by the side of the crucified Lord. Therefore, it is important that every member of the Society enters into a deeper study of the decrees besides personal prayer and reflections so that they don’t just remain in books in our shelves but find concrete expressions in our personal lives as well as in our ministries.

Fr. General, challenged all saying, “our audacity can go even further and seek not only the improbable, but the impossible, because nothing is impossible for God“. He continued, “Like Ignatius and the First Companions, like so many Jesuit brothers who have fought and who fight today under the banner of the cross, in service only to the Lord and to his Church, we too desire to contribute to that which today seems impossible: a humanity reconciled in justice, that dwells peacefully in a well-cared-for common home, where there is a place for all, since we recognize each other as brothers and sisters, as sons and daughters of the same and only Father”. An agape (a fellowship meal) was organized in his honour at 7:30 pm after which he left for the Residence of the Provincial of South Asia (POSA), Jorbag, Delhi for his night rest. In morning of the following day he left for Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.