Social justice workshop
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Visit of Fr Fernando Salas sj
The Ecclesiastical Vice Assistant
to World Christian Life Community, Fr Fernando Salas sj, visited Wellington
in early November, on his return to Rome from a CLC Asia-Pacific regional
meeting in Manila. As Ecclesiastical Vice Assistant he is responsible for
the world wide promotion and support of Christian Life Community.
Fr Salas was born in Chile and was ordained priest in 1971. One of his first
missions was the defence of human rights in his country immediately after
the 1973 military coup. He was secretary to the ecumenical Comite por
Paz (Committee for Peace) which was soon suppressed by General Pinochet.
At the Christian Life Community General Assembly in Itaici, Brazil, 1998,
he was appointed Ecclesiastical Vice Assistant to the World Christian Life
Community. Fr. Salas is now a member of the General Curia of the Society
of Jesus in Rome.
In Wellington, he met with a group of priests, religious and lay people to
learn about our concerns in NZ, and to offer his vision of the riches of Ignatian
spirituality for us. He emphasised that Ignatius of Loyola was a passionate
man, whose encounter with God was the formative experience of his life. We
too can experience and share God’s love with others, and then work together
to build a more just society for all God’s daughters and sons. This
requires a commitment to developing personal talents – to becoming “competent
and effective” as we engage with the world.
Fr Salas also stressed the need for regular prayer and spiritual development,
and made a strong case for formation through attending retreats based on the
Spiritual Exercises. He developed this theme in more depth during the weekend
he spent with Loyola CLC.
CLC in New Zealand has received a huge boost through Fr Salas’ visit, and
those involved have been encouraged and refreshed by the opportunity to deepen
their experience and understanding of Ignatian spirituality.
During his visit, Fr Salas was interviewed for Radio New Zealand’s “Touchstone”
programme, and this will be broadcast in the New Year.