General Congregation 35

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General Congregation 35 ( Jan 7th
Mar 6th, 2008 ) Part -
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Murmuratio Electionem Thanks-giving
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Jan 15th 18th Quartridium
4 days of intense preparation before the
Election with prayer, fasting and penance only
sandwiches, fruit and water provided to the
electors all the Electors to remain inside the
Curia!
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The Blessed Sacrament in exposition in the
chapel of St. Borgia in the Curia all the four
days of the Murmuratio
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Murmuratio - a one to one spiritual dialogue cum
discernment.!
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• At this point of Our Story!
• Where are we ?
• Where is the Spirit leading us ?
• Who is the one among us the
• Spirit is telling us to choose ?

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Silent prayers and reflections.. and praying
before the Blessed Sacrament were all part of
this marvelous discernment process, Murmuratio.
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HOLY SPIRIT CHURCH across the Curia, where the
217 Electors celebrated the Holy Spirit Mass on
the Election Day, at 8 am on Jan 19th , 2008.
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January 19th - the Election Day Fr. Frank Case,
the Secretary of Society presided over the Holy
Spirit Mass- at 8.00 am in the Holy Spirit Church
just across the Curia. Concelebrating with him
were the youngest elector ( Velasco) and the
eldest elector(San Feliu) excepting
Fr.Kolvenbach.
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All the Electors praying to the Holy Spirit for
the one gift Show us the Right Man
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The Aula is all set for the Ad Electionem
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It is exactly 9.30 am. Frs. Ignacio Echarte and
Sugranes making sure that all the 217 Electors
are inside the Aula before closing the main door
of the Aula.
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There is total, prayerful silence now inside the
Aula. All murmurings and whispers are over now.
Before that sacred moment of voting could arrive,
we sang Veni Creator Spiritus, listened to an
exhortation and had a long personal prayer.
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Frs. Don Doll and Rochford , the two official
photographers of the GC35, marching towards the
Aula to be ready to capture the New General
into their cameras!
The Curia and the Canisius community members and
the 5 Brother Delegates are eagerly waiting on
the Curia corridor to hear the applause and the
announcement of the New General
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And it is
REV. FR. ADOLFO NICOLAS, SJ
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At 11.45 a.m in the second ballot, Fr. Adolfo
Nicolas of the Province of Japan was elected the
30th Superior General of the Society of Jesus.
The New Generals first act was to take a public
oath in front of the Crucifix. It was in Latin.
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Fr. Lisbert D Souza, who would later be elected
as one of the Four Assistants Ad Providentiam,
congratulates the New General, assuring him of
the support of the South Asian Assistancy
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Immediately after the Election of Fr. Adolfo
Nicolas, Fr. Hector D Souza, our POSA, went
forward and congratulated the New General,
putting a colourful Naga tribal shawl around him.
The photo was at once flashed across the World.
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The Electors move forward to greet the New
General. And Fr. Nico takes time to have a few
words with each elector. The happiest moment of
the GC 35..!
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After the Election all the Electors with the New
General proceed to St.Borgia Chapel for Te Deum
to thank and praise God in the Holy Spirit for
clearly guiding them in the election of the New
General.
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Fr. Kolvenbach making the New General feel at
home at lunch after the election !
The New General Father Adolfo Nicolas - coming
out of the Aula after the Election!
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Privileged to Elect Two Generals..! Both
Congregations were called to elect a new General.
Both had swift elections, Fr. Kolvenbach on the
first ballot, and Fr. Nicolas on the second
ballot. Both elections left the delegates with a
clear sense that the Holy Spirit had guided our
discernment process, and a conviction that we had
elected men who love the Society greatly and who
would provide great leadership. We also learned
that community discernment really can work, but
it requires much more prayer than we usually give
it in our local communities. Each day the
delegates privately prayed for hours before the
Blessed Sacrament.. Vincent M. Cooke,
SJ Elector at GC33 and 35 New York
Province
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From Nicos Friends in Tokyo. 06/03/2008 - Blue
Ladies Thanks be to God, for all Her love and
grace,Given to all nations on this beautiful,
but troubled earth,For giving us much hope in
the church.Thanks be to God, for all His love
and grace,Made visible by the Jesuits in
Rome,For choosing us a humble, warm-hearted
leader.Only God, our Mother, knows the surprise
and joy,Which we, nico's pupils at Sophia,
felt,When we learned the news of the work of the
Spirit.!
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On Murmuratio 01/03/08 Dear Society of
Jesus CitizensRe On the selection modus
operandi of a New Father General Superior
General what a wonderful and most beautiful
methodology has the HOLY SPIRIT and St. Ignatius
of Loyola given the Society of Jesus in electing
their Leader in Rome!!Thank You!Yours in
Christ,Peter ThroumoulosMaine,
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The Delegates, filled with joy and gratitude,
were back to the Gesu Church again on January
20th, 2008, to offer a Thanksgiving Mass for the
gift of the New General.
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The Room of St.Ignatius- now a chapel- in the
adjoining building of the GESU Church.
As per our tradition, the New General is taken to
the room of St.Ignatius, where Chapter IX of the
Constitution is read out to him. Master Ignatius
wrote the Constitutions in this very room .
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The Delegates enter the GESU Church in
procession. All the Jesuits in Rome, Many
Religious and Lay people came to see and
congratulate the New General at this Eucharist.
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The New General Fr. Adolfo Nicolas smiles,
jokes, reflects and inspires everyone with his
words of wisdom and faith. I wanted to run
away but all the doors were shut ! said the
New General
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Jesuits gather together at the Gregorian to
congratulate the New General
Delegates of Calcutta Province meet the New
General during the reception at Gregorian
University, where both were once students.