Caoimhín Ó Ruairc

Caoimhín Ó Ruairc

Caoimhín Ó Ruairc

Kevin O Rourke assists in leading the programmes of the Tertianship. Formerly a parish priest in Ballymun, he was Rector of the Milltown Jesuit Community in Dublin. He is currently delegate for inter-provincial cooperation in the British, Irish, Dutch and North Belgian provinces. He is also formation delegate in the Irish Province of the Society of Jesus.

Jan van de Poll

Jan van de Poll

Jan van de Poll

Born in 1943 in The Hague, Netherlands, Jan entered the Society of Jesus in 1961. He studied philosophy and written and unwritten law in the Netherlands. He went on to study languages of Indonesia and theology in Java and worked in Indonesia before returning to Europe. He was Novice Master and, until 2006, Provincial of the Netherlands. His favourite sports have all to do with water. Jan discovered the spirituality of the Jesuits by reading Karl Rahner, from some wise spiritual Dutch and Flemish Jesuits in the Low Lands and, in Indonesia, in his work in Ambon, Yogyakarta, Brussels, Lyon, Bruges and Utrecht. His family is a great support for his vocation. He participated for the Dutch Province in the 35th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus in Rome.

Joseph Dargan

Joe Dargan

Joe Dargan

Born in Dublin in 1933, Joe began his novitiate in Emo he stiudied philosophy in Tullamore, theology in Milltown Park and has been ordained in 1964. For two years he worked on a social survey of Ireland as part of the Society’s response to Vatican II. He was Novice Master (1968-73), Director of the Jesuit Centre of Spirituality in Manresa, Rector of Clongoves Wood College, Gonzaga College and Belvedere College. From 1980 to 1986 Fr. Dargan was Provincial of the Irish Province. Moreover he was Secretary General of the Conference of Religious in Ireland and for some years also of the European Religious. From 1993 to 1998 he was Consultant to the Irish Bishop’s Conference on Pastoral Development. Before becoming Tertian Instructor he worked almost three years in Nairobi Kenya.

The year begins

Published in AMDG

When a Jesuit has finished his studies and worked in some ministry for a couple of years, there is one final hurdle, called Tertianship, to be crossed before his “formation” is complete. The European Tertianship programme based at Manresa, Dublin, kicked off on 19 September with twelve English-speaking Tertians from all over Europe, including two from Indonesia and one from the Philippines. For the first time on this programme there are two Irish Jesuits, Piaras Jackson and Brendan McManus. This one-year renewal course involves going back to the Jesuit sources, including Ignatius’ Autobiography and Constitutions; making a 30-day retreat; and working for two and a half months in some pastoral ministry, followed by systematic reflection on the experience. See Brendan’s photos here.

 

 

 

 

 

Tertianship begins

TertianshipThe afternoon of 19 September saw the 2011-2012 group of Tertians arrive, some directly from the airport while others travelled from various parts of Dublin where they have spent recent weeks. The first days of the Tertianship were taken gently with the necessary introductions, overviews and familiarisation being offered by the instructors Joe Dargan and Jan van de Poll.

The usual short biographies will be offered on this site later.