Pathways, July 2011
Discerning 'God's voice within' was the focus when Jesuits and companions from across Australia assembled at St Ignatius' College, Riverview earlier in July.
The more than 250 people taking part in the two-day Province Gathering were looking to better understand their personal mission and how it fits in with the mission of the Society of Jesus as a whole. The group was helped to do this by facilitator Fr Mark Thibodeaux SJ, who led participants on a series of reflections on Ignatian discernment under the theme 'God's Voice Within'.
In his closing speech at the Gathering, Australian Provincial Fr Steve Curtin said the different approach to this year's Gathering was aimed at better modelling what it is to be an apostolic community of love.
"It's so hard to be an apostolic community of love, and we can't do it if we're not discerning', he said. 'That is what we've been learning about in these last few days."
One of the main tools of discernment that Fr Thibodeaux spoke about in his presentations was to look at sources of consolation and desolation in our lives. Things that bring us consolation - that is, a sense that God is walking with us - are sources of life. Things that bring desolation - that is, a lack of a sense of God's presence - are things that take us away from God.
"If we are going to be a countersign to all of the violence and injustice in the world, we have to realise when we are being counselled by the good spirit and when we have the false spirit as our counsel", said Fr Curtin.
"Discernment helps us become more who we are", he said, "More who God is calling us to be."
The Gathering, held every two years, was also an opportunity for the Australian Province to recognise people who had provided service to its ministries over a number of years. Five lay people were given Companions Medals: Mary Nolan, John Bowie, Rosemary Flannery, Kay Hooper and Deirdre McInerney.
In his closing speech, Fr Curtin paid a moving tribute to Fr Peter Steele SJ, who was present at the Gathering despite illness.
"Before I go on to thank a number of people for their contribution to this Province Gathering, I want to thank one person in particular simply for being here. He was in the small group that met in this hall a few minutes ago to talk about poetry and theology", said Fr Curtin.
"Peter Steele has been living with cancer for some years now. He has made a special effort to be with us at this Gathering and I want to thank you Peter for taking the time and trouble to travel here from Melbourne to be with us over these days. Last night we honoured a number of our closest friends and companions with the award of the Companions Medal.
"There is no award or honour that we could give you, Peter, that could adequately express the affection we feel for you and the sense of gratitude that we have for all that you have been and done for us and for our mission. If you are not able to be with us in two years time at our next Gathering, as I suspect you may not be, please know that we will remember you then, as always, with great love and esteem. Dear companions on mission, please join me now in expressing our thanks to Peter Steele."
This tribute was followed by a standing ovation.
Fr Curtin went on to say that in the light of shortfalls in the Church, it's easy to become cynical about the prospect of becoming an apostolic community of love. But a gathering like this provides hope that it is possible.
"Being an apostolic community of love isn't an impossible dream. It's a dream that with God's help we can make true in many different ways", he said.
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