JOSEPH MATHEW FROM IRELAND

The winter arrived with heavy snowfall and a record fall of temperature below the freezing point. These days the people across Ireland are struggling to cope with drifting snow as well as the crucial Irish financial crisis. As an Indian Jesuit, I had the opportunity to attend a programme in memory of Antony de Mello. 'Wake up to life'-De Mello's prayer exercises
was conducted by Fr John Callanan in Manresa. The visitation of Fr Provincial, Tom Layden, to the Clongowes Wood College & Community was a time of great blessing. It was a time of "Jesuit week" in the College calendar, a time to appreciate the outstanding work done by Jesuits and lay persons as partners in the mission. A couple of weeks ago we, the Jesuit Community, hosted a gathering of the Bishop and all the priests in the diocese of Kildare and Leighlin. Visiting the old Novitiate of the Irish Province at the Emo Court, a large neo-classical mansion, surrounded by spectacular gardens and beautiful lake, and spending time in Wicklow holiday home as part of the regents’ meet helped me to understand the history of this Province. In this advent season, the churches and homes are decorated with the evergreen advent wreath with colored candles as part of the preparation for Christmas.

Joseph Mathew is presently working at Clongowes wood College. Clongowes wood College is a boarding school located in beautiful surroundings twenty miles from Dublin and draws its pupils from all over Ireland and abroad. The reputation of the Jesuit educational tradition in the Europe is kept with a high  nobility in the Clongowes history. It has been a tremendous influence in the English literature and the history of Ireland. After the restoration of the Society, Fr.Peter Kenney SJ, led the Jesuits back to Ireland in 1814 and Clongowes wood college was founded by him and, 2014 it will celebrate its bicentenary year. During My regency,I have  got the privilege to take part with a team of pastoral care of the pupils, as a spiritual director and a counsellor. I have other responsibilities also in  two departments of the school,The religion and The Jesuit Ethos, regarding classes, liturgies and retreats. The Jesuit community and the staff of the School are giving us a great support and opportunity to do various works here with full range of our talents and abilities. This is a place of an international regents,there are two more Jesuit friends with me, Martin Benko SJ (Slovakia) and Mariuz Balcerak SJ (Poland) in this school.