Cornerstones of Jesuit Formation
On 29 July 2026, the Jesuit novices and scholastics of the Indonesian Province were greatly blessed to receive a visit from Fr. Arturo Sosa, the General Superior of the Society of Jesus. His visit to Indonesia, from 28 July to 3 August, included meetings with Jesuit communities and apostolic works across the Province, as well as participation in the XI WUJA (World Union Jesuit Alumni) Congress in Yogyakarta. For those of us in formation, the opportunity to meet the successor of St. Ignatius was a memorable and encouraging experience.
During his meeting with the novices and scholastics, Fr. Sosa shared several important reflections on Jesuit life and vocation. His words were both inspiring and challenging, reminding us that our vocation is a gift that must be lived with fidelity, generosity, and joy. He encouraged us to remain faithful and joyful in our commitment to Christ and to continue discerning God’s will with an open and courageous heart. At the heart of his message, Fr. Sosa invited us to reflect on three key dimensions of our Jesuit vocation: Friendship, Freedom, and Frontiers. He reminded us that true friendship with Christ is the foundation of all apostolic fruitfulness, a friendship that grows through daily prayer, the Eucharist, and fraternal life in community.
Fr. Sosa also expressed his appreciation for the Indonesian Province, noting that it has a significant number of young Jesuits compared with many other Provinces of the Society. This is both a blessing and a responsibility. The presence of many young men responding to God’s call should not lead to complacency but rather inspire us to deepen our commitment and to prepare ourselves to serve wherever the mission may call us. In this context, he spoke of Freedom, the inner freedom that Ignatius speaks of in the Spiritual Exercises, as the capacity to choose God’s will above all else. He encouraged us to cultivate this freedom by detaching ourselves from comfort, security, and worldly approval, so that we might be truly available for the mission.
His message also echoed the recent encouragement of Pope Leo XIV to the Society of Jesus. In his letter to the Major Superiors, the Holy Father reminded Jesuits to remain present at the frontiers, where the needs of the Church and the world are often greatest. As young Jesuits in formation, we are therefore called to cultivate the virtues, spiritual depth, and intellectual formation necessary to serve Christ faithfully in today’s complex world. Our formation is not merely for personal growth but to prepare us for mission, wherever we may be sent. Fr. Sosa powerfully linked this call to the third dimension: Frontiers. He urged us not to be afraid of the frontiers, whether geographical, cultural, intellectual, or spiritual, because it is precisely at the margins that we encounter Christ most vividly and where the Society is called to be present today.
As a Jesuit scholastic, listening to Fr. Sosa reminded me that the Jesuit vocation is not simply about belonging to a religious order but about continually growing in love for Christ and in readiness to serve His people. The three words he shared-Friendship, Freedom, and Frontiers- have stayed with me as a framework for understanding my own formation journey. His visit strengthened my desire to embrace the formation process with greater generosity, trusting that God continues to guide the Society through the inspiration of St. Ignatius and the leadership of those entrusted with its care. And may this reflection also encourage those who read it, especially young Jesuits in formation.
In the unity of heart and mind.
