As
previously reported, the commemoration of Father Pedro
Arrupe’s birth centenary on November 14 had been widely held
throughout the Society. In some Provinces, a number of those
who were close collaborators of Father Arrupe, recalled their
experiences and shared with others the traits of Arrupe’s
personality, his way of governing the Society and the
influence he exercised in the Church. Among them were Father
Vincent O’Keefe in New York, Cardinal Roberto Tucci and Father
Bartolomeo Sorge in Italy, and Father Jean-Yves Calvez in
France.
Father General traveled to Bilbao, Fr. Arrupe’s native place,
where he spent two busy days giving a conference at the
University of Deusto, inaugurating two photographic
exhibitions, meeting the members of the Province (together
with the novices from all the Spanish Provinces who came for
celebration), and attending a musical play on the life of
Father Arrupe.
The conference (Father Arrupe, Prophet of the Council
Renovation) was enthusiastically received by an audience who
filled the main hall of the University and forced the
organizers to arrange in the last moment an additional
auditorium linked by television with the hall. The long,
rousing applause at the end of his conference was an obvious
indication of the audience appreciation. According to the
unanimous comment among Jesuits and non-Jesuits was that
Father General had convincingly proved that Father Arrupe was
indeed a prophet of the renovation advocated by the Council.
At the same time, aware of the fact that this conference about
his predecessor was the last public engagement of Father
Kolvenbach, many thought that his words were an expression of
the legacy that after his long service to the Society and the
Church he wanted to offer to the future generations of
Jesuits.
The thanksgiving Mass was presided by the Bishop of Bilbao and
concelebrated by Father General , the Assistant for South
Europe, and all the Provincials of Spain.
The last act of the celebration lasted three hours and took
place on November 14 in a modern theatre seating 2,100 people
which was not sufficient to accommodate all the persons who
wanted to join the “dramatic musical” narrating the life of
Father Arrupe. The orchestra and the choir was composed of
more than 100 members who used 115 microphones installed on
the stage.
Events
As
previously reported, the commemoration of Father Pedro
Arrupe’s birth centenary on November 14 had been widely held
throughout the Society. In some Provinces, a number of those
who were close collaborators of Father Arrupe, recalled their
experiences and shared with others the traits of Arrupe’s
personality, his way of governing the Society and the
influence he exercised in the Church. Among them were Father
Vincent O’Keefe in New York, Cardinal Roberto Tucci and Father
Bartolomeo Sorge in Italy, and Father Jean-Yves Calvez in
France.
The thanksgiving Mass was presided by the Bishop of Bilbao and
concelebrated by Father General , the Assistant for South
Europe, and all the Provincials of Spain.