.November 12, 2016 — This morning, members of the Jesuits’ General Congregation 36 (GC 36) voted to close the congregation. The General Congregation, the supreme governing body of the Society of Jesus, opened on October 2; elected a new leader, Father General Arturo Sosa, SJ, on October 14; and ended today with a Thanksgiving Mass at St. Ignatius Church in Rome.

The last day of the congregation began with prayer and a contemplative examination of the six weeks of work. The delegates then evaluated the congregation in small groups.

In the final working session of GC 36 in the Aula, Fr. Sosa thanked the congregation for its work, emphasizing the importance of recognizing that it is the Lord who will grow the seed that the congregation planted. He also thanked all the people and teams involved in the process of preparation, coordination, logistics and communications, as well as the Curia staff and the Jesuit communities of Rome that generously welcomed the members of the congregation.

Later in the day at the Jesuits’ St. Ignatius Church, Fr. Sosa celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving to mark the end of the congregation. Father General invoked Mary, under the title of Our Lady of the Way, as is traditional in the Society, praying for her intercession as she accompanies the “friends in the Lord” leaving for every corner of the world after the congregation. He also asked Mary to help all Jesuits to be true and authentic witnesses of the message of Christ, that they might credibly reflect his face to the world.

During his homily, Fr. Sosa spoke of the discernment process during the congregation. “Our discernment leads us to see the world through the eyes of the poor and to work with them so that true life may grow,” he said. “It invites us to go to the margins to search for an understanding, about how to address globally the entirety of the crisis that prevents minimum living conditions for the majority of humanity and threatens life on the planet Earth, in order to open a space for the Good News.”

Fr. Sosa called on Jesuits to preach the Gospel everywhere, “consoled by the experience of the love of God who has placed us together as companions of Jesus.”

“Like the first Fathers, the Lord has been propitious in Rome, and sends us all over the world and to every human culture. We go in confidence because he works with us and confirms with unedited signs our life and mission.”

At the conclusion of the Mass, Jesuits sang a hymn characteristic of the spirituality of the Society: “Take, Lord, receive all my liberty, my memory, understanding and my entire will, everything I have and possess. You have given all to me. Now I return it. All is yours, dispose of it entirely according to your will. Give me only your love and your grace. That’s enough for me.”

To head the full homily, click here. [Source: GC36.org]