Nuns visit a photography exhibition organized by Jesuit-run youth movement Magisbangla in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Feb. 11. (Photo by Stephan Uttom/ucanews.com)
Magisbangla, a Jesuit-run youth movement in Bangladesh, held a photography competition and exhibition to feature Christian life that also attracted Muslim and Hindu photographers.
The event, titled "The face of Christ in the faces of faithful," was held at the Catholic Church-run Bottomley Home Girls' High School in Tejgaon, central Dhaka, on Feb. 10-11.
A total of 69 photographs were showcased in the exhibition out of 164 images submitted by 48 young photographers.
Magisbangla coordinator Jesuit Father Pradeep Perez said the initiative drew inspiration from the teaching of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus.
"St. Ignatius initiated the spiritual practice of finding God in all things. Artistic inspiration and expression are significant in Christian spiritual life. It is in this context that Magisbangla tries to give a new dimension of Christian life and living to all, especially young people," Father Perez said.
"The Jesuits were always great promoters of aesthetic excellence in images. Former Jesuit General Father Pedro Arrupe said an artist can touch the wellspring of the human heart and release energies of the soul that the rest of the world does not suspect."
MAGIS (Marching and Growing in Solidarity) is a global youth movement sponsored by Jesuits and active in up to 87 countries. Magisbangla started in Bangladesh in 2007.