A Note from the Indonesian Province Extended Consultative Meeting:

From 15 to 17 December 2025, the Indonesian Province of the Society of Jesus convened an extended consultative meeting at the Jesuit Retreat House in Klaten, Central Java. Thirty-three Jesuits gathered in a spirit of prayer and communal discernment to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in preparation for the appointment of the next Provincial, as Fr. Benedictus Hari Juliawan, S.J., will complete his term in 2026.

In keeping with the Society’s long-standing tradition, each member of the extended consult was invited to engage in personal and communal discernment and to submit up to three names of Jesuits considered suitable for the office of Provincial. This process reflects the Ignatian conviction that leadership in the Society emerges through attentive listening to the Spirit within the body of the Church.

On the second day, participants reflected together on the challenges confronting the Society at the global, national, and provincial levels. Naming these challenges clarified the mission priorities of the Indonesian Province for the coming years and the qualities needed in its future leadership.

That day, Fr. José Magadia, S.J., Regional Assistant for Asia Pacific, who accompanied the entire process, presided at the Eucharist. In his homily, he recalled Pope Leo XIV’s address to the Jesuit Major Superiors Meeting in Rome (24 October 2025), highlighting the Holy Father’s call for Jesuits to remain attentive to the frontiers of the Church’s mission. These frontiers, he noted, are not only geographical. While demanding missions in regions such as Kalimantan and Papua clearly constitute frontiers, so too do academic, social, cultural, and spiritual contexts where the presence of the Gospel is urgently needed. Echoing the Pope’s message, Fr. Magadia encouraged Jesuits to embrace new and challenging missions with apostolic courage and trust in God.

Throughout the meeting, participants offered frank and respectful assessments of candidates proposed by Jesuits from communities across the Province. Each candidate—who was also present at the meeting—was discussed in his absence and was later invited back to confirm his availability. While some expressed reservations about accepting the office, all conveyed gratitude for their brothers’ trust and affirmed their readiness to serve wherever the Society may send them.

The assembly then entered into communal prayer, entrusting each candidate to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and praying for their continued growth in Christ.
On the third day, following further discernment, each participant submitted up to three names in a sealed and anonymous ballot. These will be reviewed in the coming days, and ultimately, three names will be forwarded to the Father General, who is expected to make the appointment before Holy Week 2026.

In his concluding remarks, Fr. Magadia reminded participants that this centuries-old Ignatian process of discernment in selecting Provincials has consistently served the mission of the Society across diverse cultures and contexts. Together with the assembly, he expressed gratitude to Fr. Benedictus H. Juliawan, S.J., and Fr. Melkyor Pando, S.J., Socius to the Provincial, for their careful preparation and coordination of the meeting.

The extended consultative meeting concluded with the celebration of the Eucharist presided over by Fr. Benedictus Hari Juliawan, S.J., who thanked the participants for their commitment and invited them to continue their mission in the Society with renewed trust in the guidance of the Spirit.

The participants noted that the Extended Consult process felt discretionary. Fr. Socius led a prayer at the beginning and end of each session. This included every time they finished discussing a particular candidate, which always ended with a prayer for that candidate. This Extended Consult was also marked by personal reflection and prayer. Each participant was invited to listen attentively to the Holy Spirit, setting aside personal and group interests and considering what was best for the Province’s future.

Contributor: Sch. Klaus Heinrich Raditio, S.J.