Arturo Sosa, S.J., superior general of the society of Jesus, is currently visiting Canada for 12 days. It is his first visit to the country, and the Jesuit Conference of the United States and Canada is tracking his trip on social media. This post will be updated as his trip continues.
May 19, 2018
Father Sosa arrived in Canada on May 19 and began his trip by visiting the Jesuits in formation at Regis College at the University of Toronto.
Fr. General meets with men in formation from Canada, the US and other countries at @RegisCollege and speaks of reconciliation #FGinCanada#Jesuits#Reconciliationpic.twitter.com/eHIAA762KG
— Jesuits in Canada (@JesuitsinCanada) May 19, 2018
A recap of the first day of Father General Sosa's first official visit to Canada, which included meeting with Jesuits in formation & concelebrating the ordination of seven Jesuits. https://t.co/lZxwGNnNDq#FGinCanadapic.twitter.com/piovVfbNUI
— Jesuit News (@jesuitnews) May 21, 2018
Following his visit, Father Sosa made his way to St. Paul’s Basilica in downtown Toronto to concelebrate the ordination of seven Jesuits, five to the priesthood and two to the diaconate.
Newly ordained priests of @JesuitsinCanada welcomed by a sign of peace by Fr. General and his assistants #FGinCanada#Jesuitspic.twitter.com/4QrznSoBxj
— Jesuits in Canada (@JesuitsinCanada) May 19, 2018
Group picture of the newly ordained with @archterentius and Fr. General #FGinCanada@JesuitsinCanada#Jesuitspic.twitter.com/VxSP01w7hC
— Jesuits in Canada (@JesuitsinCanada) May 19, 2018
May 20, 2018
The second day of Father Sosa’s visit to Canada began with a visit to the Martyrs’ Shrine in Midland, Ontario, dedicated to the French Jesuit martyrs of North America. The Martyrs’ Shrine currently holds the relics of St. Jean de Brébeuf, S.J.; St. Gabriel Lalemant, S.J.; and St. Charles Garnier, S.J.
Fr. General begins a tour of @SainteMarie_hhp going back in history to see how the Jesuits of the 17th century lived in Canada on this site #FGinCanada#Jesuits#Reconciliationpic.twitter.com/T0iAWYdDKL
— Jesuits in Canada (@JesuitsinCanada) May 20, 2018
Fr. General prays at the site where Sts Brébeuf and Lalament suffered martyrdom #FGinCanada#Jesuitspic.twitter.com/6fFInkeViz
— Jesuits in Canada (@JesuitsinCanada) May 20, 2018
After a tour of the shrine, Fr. Sosa visited the location where Jean de Brébeuf and Gabriel Lalemant were martyred in 1649. The 28th superior general of the Society of Jesus, Pedro Arrupe, S.J., prayed there in 1977 during his visit to the shrine.
Father Sosa also celebrated Mass for the feast of Pentecost at the Martyrs’ Shrine.
Mass of the Solemnity of Pentecost at @martyrsshrine1 with Fr. General #FGinCanada#Jesuitspic.twitter.com/8vABMOTbOE
— Jesuits in Canada (@JesuitsinCanada) May 20, 2018
On Sunday, Father General visited @martyrsshrine1 and prayed at the site where where #Jesuits Jean de Brébeuf & Gabriel Lalemant were martyred in 1649. Fr. Pedro Arrupe, 28th Superior General of the Society, prayed there in 1967. https://t.co/lKLUC5BbV3#FGinCanadapic.twitter.com/zKM36kmKwa
— Fr. Tim Kesicki, SJ (@FrTimSJ) May 24, 2018
May 23, 2018
Father Sosa continued his journey in Canada with a visit to Montreal, Quebec, where he met the Jesuit community at Maison Bellarmin.
Today, Fr. General was welcomed to Maison Bellarmin in Montreal. #FGinCanada#Jesuites#Jesuitspic.twitter.com/llgJVlcTkv
— Jesuits in Canada (@JesuitsinCanada) May 23, 2018
“We need to work together to highlight the diversity of our world — and be in touch with real people as we colloabote in a mission that is much bigger than the mission of the Society of Jesus” -Fr. General #FGinCanada#Jesuites#Jesuitspic.twitter.com/AMLE0hBebH
— Jesuits in Canada (@JesuitsinCanada) May 23, 2018
May 24, 2018
The following day, Father Sosa met Archbishop Christian Lépine, Archbishop of Montreal. He also visited Loyola High School in Montreal, where he spoke of the importance of a Jesuit education. He then spent time at a Q&A with some of the students.
Today, Fr. General met with Archbishop Lépine, Archbishop of Montreal @JesuitsinCanada@diocesemontreal#FGinCanada#Jesuitspic.twitter.com/lh4NGx1kVb
— Jesuits in Canada (@JesuitsinCanada) May 24, 2018
While at @loyolamontreal Fr. General met with students for a question and answer period #FGinCanada#Jesuiteducated#Reconciliationpic.twitter.com/D7Z1Jut3Ma
— Jesuits in Canada (@JesuitsinCanada) May 24, 2018
At the end of the day, Father Sosa attended the 32nd General Assembly of the Canadian Religious Conference and gave the opening remarks to the 300 leaders of religious communities in attendance.
From May 24 to 27, 300 leaders of Canadian Catholic religious congregations are gathered in Montreal for the 32nd General Assembly of the Canadian Religious Conference (CRC). Tonight, Fr. General gave the opening remarks. @JesuitsinCanada#FGinCanada#Jesuitspic.twitter.com/hUKwwmlnhf
— Jesuits in Canada (@JesuitsinCanada) May 25, 2018
May 25, 2018
Father Sosa’s schedule the next day included a visit to Quebec City, where he met with a Jesuit community and was received by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Richelieu.
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate welcomed Fr. General to this shared community in Richelieu. Fr. General thanked the Oblates for their dedicated service, and the warm welcome they continue to extend to the Jesuits who live here with them. #FGinCanada#Jesuitspic.twitter.com/4AmKi563ye
— Jesuits in Canada (@JesuitsinCanada) May 25, 2018
May 26, 2018
Father Sosa’s seventh day in Canada began with an early morning meeting with Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, Archbishop of Quebec and the diaconate ordination of Johnny Masséba, S.J., a Haitian Jesuit.
— Jesuits in Canada (@JesuitsinCanada) May 26, 2018
The newly ordained deacon welcomes Fr. General, and offers words of thanksgiving to his brother Jesuits, family members and friends for all their support throughout his formation #FGinCanada#Jesuites#Jesuitspic.twitter.com/Or0WlP8Qza
— Jesuits in Canada (@JesuitsinCanada) May 26, 2018
May 27, 2018
The following day, Father Sosa joined the Jesuits in Montreal for a Mass of Thanksgiving at the Church of the Gesù in Montreal.
The Jesuits in Canada, with Fr. General Arturo Sosa, celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving at the Church of the Gesù in Montreal. #FGinCanada@JesuitsinCanadapic.twitter.com/5t56w7hFgk
— Jesuits in Canada (@JesuitsinCanada) May 27, 2018
During the celebration of the Eucharist, Father Sosa read a decree officially announcing the creation of the Province of Canada, which will unite the Jesuit provinces of English and French Canada.
Fr. General speaks of the universal mission of the Society of Jesus, and highlights the importance continued reconciliation in Canada #FGinCanada@JesuitsinCanadapic.twitter.com/C3OIqL8LdE
— Jesuits in Canada (@JesuitsinCanada) May 27, 2018