A GREAT YEAR FOR JESUIT ORDINATIONS
Ged Clapson reports on a bumper year for British Province ordinations
A double ordination in South Africa on 8th September brought the total number of men ordained for the British Province of the Society of Jesus in 2006 to six - the highest number in one year since 1988. Bruce Botha and Shaun Carls were ordained by Bishop Buti Tlhagale of Johannesburg at Holy Trinity Church in Braamfontein. Their ordination followed Russell Pollitt's in the same church in February, and a triple ordination for the Province at St Ignatius' Church, Stamford Hill, London in July.
urban-born Bruce (37) entered the Society in 1996 and studied for his MA in Theology and Philosophy at Heythrop College, London from 1998 to 2000. On returning to South Africa, he was made Co-ordinator of the Region's work among people with AIDS, and served his Regency at Baragwanath Hospital. 42-year-old Shaun entered the Society in 1993 and is currently studying in Berkeley, California. He also studied at Heythrop (2002-5) and as part of his Regency was a Parliamentary Liaison Officer.
The ordinations of Bruce and Shaun in South Africa followed those of Nick Austin, Jim Conway and Dushan Croos at Stamford Hill on 22nd July. In his homily, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor said that in almost 30 years as a bishop, he had never had the opportunity to ordain a Jesuit. The triple ordination took place on the feast of St Mary Magdalene - the same day as the ordination of Blessed Peter Favre whose 500th birthday is being celebrated by Jesuits throughout the world in 2006.
Nick, Dushan and Jim entered the Society of Jesus in the mid-90s and each of them has undertaken a number of ministries over the past decade. Dushan worked with the Jesuit Refugee Service in Sarajevo and helped to organise groups for the World Youth Days in Cologne; for three years in Sunderland, Jim helped launch and develop a support network for newly dispersed asylum seekers to the area; and Nick spent two years teaching at the only Catholic school in Guyana.
Nick has now resumed his studies in Boston, USA; Dushan is serving as Chaplain at Wimbledon College, London; and Jim is part-time Assistant Chaplain at St Ignatius' College, Enfield, as well as having responsibility for the social outreach office at Stamford Hill.
The Ordinands with Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor
The Ordination ceremony at Stamford Hill
A double ordination in South Africa on 8th September brought the total number of men ordained for the British Province of the Society of Jesus in 2006 to six - the highest number in one year since 1988. Bruce Botha and Shaun Carls were ordained by Bishop Buti Tlhagale of Johannesburg at Holy Trinity Church in Braamfontein. Their ordination followed Russell Pollitt's in the same church in February, and a triple ordination for the Province at St Ignatius' Church, Stamford Hill, London in July.
urban-born Bruce (37) entered the Society in 1996 and studied for his MA in Theology and Philosophy at Heythrop College, London from 1998 to 2000. On returning to South Africa, he was made Co-ordinator of the Region's work among people with AIDS, and served his Regency at Baragwanath Hospital. 42-year-old Shaun entered the Society in 1993 and is currently studying in Berkeley, California. He also studied at Heythrop (2002-5) and as part of his Regency was a Parliamentary Liaison Officer.
The ordinations of Bruce and Shaun in South Africa followed those of Nick Austin, Jim Conway and Dushan Croos at Stamford Hill on 22nd July. In his homily, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor said that in almost 30 years as a bishop, he had never had the opportunity to ordain a Jesuit. The triple ordination took place on the feast of St Mary Magdalene - the same day as the ordination of Blessed Peter Favre whose 500th birthday is being celebrated by Jesuits throughout the world in 2006.
Nick, Dushan and Jim entered the Society of Jesus in the mid-90s and each of them has undertaken a number of ministries over the past decade. Dushan worked with the Jesuit Refugee Service in Sarajevo and helped to organise groups for the World Youth Days in Cologne; for three years in Sunderland, Jim helped launch and develop a support network for newly dispersed asylum seekers to the area; and Nick spent two years teaching at the only Catholic school in Guyana.
Nick has now resumed his studies in Boston, USA; Dushan is serving as Chaplain at Wimbledon College, London; and Jim is part-time Assistant Chaplain at St Ignatius' College, Enfield, as well as having responsibility for the social outreach office at Stamford Hill.
The Ordinands with Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor