Greetings of peace from the heart of the Arrupe International Residence Ateneo de Manila campus Quezon city manila Philippines. Imagine a single community that hosts thirteen cultures, thirteen languages, and innumerable diverse stories—and yet not in chaos but in communion. This is our reality. As Jesuits in formation from different parts of Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, we are blessed to live, pray, learn, and evolve within a family that resembles a miniature version of the universal Church.
Our life in common at Arrupe is not simply about learning theology or finishing programs; it’s about becoming men of profound compassion and intercultural savvy, ready to serve in a world that is at once wonderfully diverse and deeply interconnected. In April of this year, during Holy Week, our community undertook a mission that marvelously brought this vision to life.
During the second week of April, my seven companions and I enrolled in the Centre for Ignatian Spirituality (CIS) practicum course and entered Module 3: Retreat Facilitation and Spiritual Direction. This was more than coursework—it was a transformative spiritual journey. We were immersed in the Holy Week rhythm in the Sacred Heart Novitiate in Novaliches for eight days. Every day was a challenge, a grace, and a discovery. From Maundy Thursday through Easter Sunday, we weren’t merely participants—we were facilitators, spiritual guides to retreatants on the path to the Risen Christ.
I was privileged to accompany two people through personal retreats. I heard their stories in daily colloquies of pain, healing, hope, and faith. Each interview taught me how holy it is to be trusted with another’s inner life. We were shaped in skill and the intentional, deep listening that marks effective Ignatian accompaniment under the wise guidance of mentors. This taught me the ground-level, pastoral realities of Jesuit ministry and that giving retreats is not a show—the director must first be a listener and fellow pilgrim.
Coming back from our immersion, life at Arrupe fell into its routine. We returned to our classes at Loyola School of Theology (LST), ate around the table, lively theological discussions took place, and moments of quiet reflection. Yet something was different. We had changed, not just as individuals but as a community. Arrupe is not just a place to live but a spiritual community. We are from various countries but share one mission. Cultural differences here are not barriers—they are blessings. Every day is an intercultural dialogue masterclass, where humility, curiosity, and respect for one another are our daily vocabulary. Whether joking over breakfast or reflecting on our apostolates, our differences remind us that God’s Spirit moves in many tongues and forms. This community teaches us that leadership in the Church today demands theological depth, intercultural intelligence, and a heart open to all.
As we prepare for final exams and await our summer holiday—some going for Arrupe month (summer intersection) and heading home, others off on retreat— we carry with us not only academic learning but experiences of grace. Our CIS experience and our experience in the community have taught us that formation is not merely about the mind but about the whole person—heart, spirit, culture, and relationships. Indeed, living and learning in Arrupe Residence has taught us to welcome the “other” as a brother. It calls us out to decenter ourselves and clear space for God’s unexpected presence in strange and new lands. The journey isn’t always comfortable, but it is profoundly life-changing. It readies us for a future in which we are sent to strange lands—not as aliens but as friends who are prepared to walk with those we serve.
The Arrupe experience is a gift that continues to unfold. It is a school of humility, fraternity, and discernment. As we move forward on our Jesuit paths, we are formed by these experiences, thankful for the mentors who shape us, the companions who walk alongside us, and the God who calls us ever deeper into love and service.
We are called to continue the Arrupe spirit: a spirit of openness to diversity, spiritual search, and commitment to the healing and reconciling of the world. In each retreat we offer and in each culture we enter, may we be good instruments of God’s love for all people, for the greater glory of God (AMDG).
Writer: Sch. Marcos Apu, SJ