Irish Jesuit Father John Dardis, speaks to participants at the three-day workshop entitled "Developing Visionary Leadership: A workshop for Discernment and Apostolic planning," July 22-24 in West Bengal. (Photo supplied)
A group of Jesuit superiors from northern India have been taught management skills to better perform their role as leaders.
Some 65 priests from six Jesuit provinces and regions participated in the three-day workshop entitled "Developing Visionary Leadership: A workshop for Discernment and Apostolic planning," July 22-24.
Irish Jesuit Father John Dardis, president of the European Conference of the Society of Jesus, was the resource person at the workshop held at the Loyola Pastoral Center Matigara, in West Bengal state.
The meeting was a follow up to the 36th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus held last year in Rome.
Father Jose Vadassery, provincial of the Patna Jesuit Province, said two important themes of the General Congregation were discernment and leadership and that one of the fruits of the workshop was clarity for Jesuit superiors in these two areas.
Jesuit leadership is different from other kinds of leadership, and the uniqueness of the Society of Jesus is the concept of discernment, he said.
He said Pope Francis had made reference to this aspect during his address to Jesuits at the congregation in Rome.
Participants were also introduced to "Adaptive Leadership" which presents a new outlook on leadership for Jesuit superiors.
Father Hector D’Souza from the Kohima Jesuit Region, said discernment, planning and leadership were important for the life and mission of all Jesuits.
Participants traveled from the Indian states of Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and from neighboring Nepal.
