INDIA
Dear Fabio, just back from the conference of Jesuit Alumni/ae Associations of the Central Zone(Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Bhopal) held at Hazaribagh (500 km away) from Calcutta. I will send you a detailed report on that shortly. The Hazaribagh conference was very fruitful as it gave birth to the first Council comprising members of the alumni/ae Associations of the Central Zone. The Zonal Councils are the wheels on which the Governing Council of the Federation is to move.
There are quite a few active alumni/ae associations in that Zone. Before the Federation was formed and the new Constitution adopted they were very closely linked with Calcutta because of their geographical proximity. Talks are going on about `twinning' between the zones for more effective working. I am mailing my report again to you, on the first planning meeting for the Calcutta Congress in 2003. I have noticed that you were visiting China. It would be good if you could come to India. I may visit the U.S. later this year. I will let you know as soon as my plans get finalized.
Best wishes and warm personal regards, Kalyan Chowdhury, WUJA member, South Asia.
October 7/99

Dear Fabio, this is to keep you updated on the World Congress. Yesterday in Calcutta we had the first preparatory meeting for the World Congress in 2003. After my report on the Sydney Congress we moved on to a brain-storming session about the next Congress in Calcutta. The topics were:

1. TIMING OF THE CONGRESS: The suggestions were that we should first try to adhere to the conventional/holiday time of our guests from the Northern hemisphere who have their holidays in June/July. But most participants were of the opinion that considering June/July to be monsoon months in India/Calcutta we should propose to hold it in the winter months, preferably January or November, 2003.Could I have your views?
2. THEME: While discussing the theme several interesting suggestions came forward, e.g. preservation of mother earth, Jesuit education for bringing true independence, United Nations theme for 2003. I pointed out that an international conference of NGOs will be taking place in Seoul this year and we could borrow some of their themes. Also we should look at the topics that alumni world over are discussing in Europe and other places.
3. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES: Here it was observed that while setting up our structures locally we should not forget that we would need to network with the other alumni/ae organizations of the World. Can we identify some of the major alumni/ae organizations to try and establish closer links with all the alumni/ae of the world.

USA
November Teach-in
Charlie Currie SJ, President of the AJCU, and Lucien Roy, Director of Campus Ministry at Loyola of Chicago, are leading an effort to bring Jesuit schools, parishes, and others affiliated with the Ignatian vision to Columbus, Georgia on November 19-20 for the School of Americas (SOA) protest. To date representatives from all 28 colleges and universities and four high schools are planning to attend.
The Teach-In begins in the evening of November 19 with speeches, music, and liturgy, resuming. The next morning it moves in solidarity to the gates of Fort Benning for the beginning of the protest. A liturgy will be held Saturday evening followed by nonviolence training for those considering "crossing the line" on Sunday.
The focus of the Teach-In is the remembrance of the martyred Jesuits and the two women who worked at the university. It acknowledges that their deaths were a dark response to the power of Jesuit education aligned with the poor and the revolutionary effect of the word joined to a faith that does justice.

Cooperative Service Programs
A number of Jesuit Universities in the western U.S. cooperate in "Alumni for Others" programs. For example, Loyola-Marymount University picks several days, usually in April, and set up service projects in their local area, two or three in Los Angeles County, and one or two in Orange County. Then, in conjunction with local alumni groups from other Jesuit universities, they gather volunteers to perform the service.
This happens in other cities, too, reciprocally. For example, Santa Clara U. and U. of San Francisco set up service projects in their areas, and L-M U alumni living in Silicon Valley and San Francisco participate in their projects. Similar service projects occurred in Denver, Phoenix and Seattle as well.
At present service projects for April 2000 are being organized.
Ron Ferreri
Council Member USA

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
Kisantu, August 4, 1999 - To the President of WORLD UNION OF JESUIT ALUMNI Mr. Fabio Tobón - SANTAFE DE BOGOTA COLOMBIA
Excellency,
Ref: Request for financial support ($77.008,5) for the creation of the Center of Welcome for the underprivileged or disfavored in Kisantu.
Permit us to come to your high personality to express our great sincere thanks for your letter as well as for the documentation ETC, list of associations that you sent to us.
Alumni(AE) of Our Lady's College of Mbansa-Mboma, worried for others, have initiated an Association of Development (Sodek), working in the fight against misery and poverty in our area of Kisantu. Our desire is that of creating a Center of Welcome for the disfavored (Children, Olds and Widows) in Kisantu, but our financial insufficiency has not permitted us to create it.
So, we have the honor to request your support and the generosity of others alumni like ARRUPE FUND, for the construction of this Center. We hope that you will pay particular attention to our request.
Subjoined the project.
Waiting for an favorable reply, we remain in high hopes.
Yours faithfully,
BULA BENDE Yves Hortens - President
Jan EVERS S.J - Moral Authority
Solidarite pour le Developpement de Kisantu - SODEK - B.P. 7245 KIINSHASA I - Republique Democratique du Congo

NOTE: The request has been addressed to the Pedro Arrupe foundation. Any help that we could get from Alumni/ae from all over the world will be welcomed and appreciated.

HONG KONG
Dear Fabio, here are the news from Michael Au, Chairman of Wah Yan HK Past Student Association:

• Starting from Oct 15, 1999, there is a Happy Hour held between 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. every Friday at the Wah Yan College, HK, for the interaction of the old boys/past students.
• The 80th Anniversary Dinner of Wah Yan College Hong Kong was held very successfully on November 11, 1999 with about 1,500 participants that included Fathers, teachers (retired and current ones), old boys, students and parents.
• The Annual Ball this year will be held on December 23, 1999 at the Country Club.

AUSTRALIA
The 'Arrupe Dollar' Appeal is an initiative of the World Union and as Fr Dwyer has stated, was one of the resolutions taken at the 1997 World Congress held in Sydney. The resolution asked all our Alumni/ae Associations and Federations worldwide, to collect, once a year, one US Dollar from each member.
The Pedro Arrupe World Association was founded at the World Alumni/ae Congress held in Versalles, France, in 1982. It was decided at that time that the foundation was to be the social arm of the World Union. The foundation has engaged in many activities to benefit not only those in need in developing countries but also some of our fellow alumni.
It was announced in March, 1999, that the Pedro Arrupe World Association had agreed to participate in an educational and cultural development program in association with the Jesuit Refugee Service, in the Great Lakes region of Africa, in two refugee camps, Kiziba and Gihembe, housing some 40,000 people. The goal is to provide 50 per cent of the funds required for the first year of operation, a cost to the foundation of US $15,000. There is also a plan in action to aid the Kosovar refugees. As is evident, funds are urgently needed.
Together with Fr Dwyer, I would like to thank you for the generous response to our call for the 'Arrupe Dollar'. It has been wonderful to see the 'Arrupe Two Dollars Australian'!! arrive with your subscriptions. The AJAA donation was sent mid October and an email from Eric de Langsdorff, Vice-President of the Pedro Arrupe World Association was sent to me immediately on his receipt of our contribution, asking that `sincere thanks to all the Australian friends' be passed on.
As Jean Llorin said in her wonderful presentation at the Sydney World Congress ... HOPE STARTS WITH ONE ... and it was Fr. Pedro Arrupe who put forward the proposition at the World Congress in Valencia, Spain, to ask all Jesuit Alumni/ae worldwide for ... ONE DOLLAR ... per year, stating that if this could be achieved it would make a significant amount of money to assist those in need.
We, here in Australia, have begun and will continue to collect the `Arrupe Dollar' with your continued generous assistance.
On behalf of the World Union of Jesuit Alumni/ae, thank you again and may it be for you a peace filled Christmas and a New Year, indeed a New Century, greeted by all with joy, thanks, hope and faith in the future.
Robyn Treseder
World Union Council Member

EUROPEAN CONFEDERATION
22-24 October saw the members of the European Confederation committee descending on Glasgow for the half-yearly meeting. This took place at St Aloysius College and was organized by John McCabe, President of the local Alumni/ae Association, Paul Rogers, a member of the European committee, and Alan McKell, Secretary of the British Jesuit Alumni/ae.
The meeting heard reports from all the different member federations on the progress each was making with its projects. Agreement was also reached on the location of the next European Congress which will take place in Malta. The final dates have yet to be agreed but will be around the end of July or early August in 2001. A report was also presented by the British group on its twinning with the Jesuit Colleges in Lithuania.
Much of the time was spent refining the document "EN TODO AMAR Y SERVIR". A group of three, Louis Cooreman of Belgium, Eric De Langsdorf of France and Fr Kevin Fox SJ of Britain will finalize the document for acceptance at the next meeting in March 2000.
A most important element of the meeting was the election of the officers for the next three years. Louis Cooreman was re-elected as President, Bernard Kottrupp of Germany and Herve Carrera of France were elected Vice-presidents. The retiring Vice-presidents were Bernard Thompson of Britain who retired after six years and Joachim Wollensak of Germany.
A full report of the meeting will appear on the European Website: www.kath.de/stellaner/europa/ignatius.htm
Bernard Thompson
Vice-President WUJA

FRENCH FEDERATION
After the general assembly held in Paris last February 1999, a meetin with the French Jesuit Provincial was held to outline the Federation programs in cooperation with the French Jesuit Province in education, social work and ongoing formation fields. The final projects will be voted in the next General meeting which will take place in Penboc'h-Vannes on the 5-6 February 2000. Besides our continuing commitment within the educational school communities, the social work carried out by the local associations (Bordeaux, Marseille, Paris…) or by alumni/ae, please note two recent news:

1. The MAGIS Project: Last september 1999, a group of former pupils together with a group of executives from Sainte Genevieve school in Versailles launched a training course called MAGIS for executives. This training course is intended for men and women aged 40 to 45 who hold managerial positions at executive levels, wishing to look into their lives half way through their careers to eventually give a new meaning to their existence. These courses are usually paid by the ongoing training courses. The training lasts over a period of nine months with an Ignatian dynamics. From September to December: « a rereading of life» ; from January to March: «a reading of the world» ; from April to June : each one reflects on his own life project. During this period of training, seminars are held, which will be followed by discussions in small groups chaired by a lecturer. (news given by Frédéric Buxtorf, President of the alumni/ae association of Ste Geneviève)
2. The annual meeting of COFAEC: The annual meeting of COFAEC (the French Confederation of alumni/ae and friends of Catholic Schools) was held in Paris on the 27-28 November 1999. «Let us prepare ourselves for the Jubilee» was the theme. In this alumni movement, the Jesuit alumni, together with members of other religious congregations and of dioceses, are responsible for the whole organisation and the entertainement : our friend Laurent Gregoire, himself an alumnus, has been nominated President of COFAEC last November 1998 and he is therefore the official representative of all alumni/ae and friends of the French Catholic schools in the National Catholic School Committee.

ITALIAN FEDERATION
The Italian Federation of Former Alumni/ae celebrated its 50^th year of foundation with an event in Rome which was also attended by Father Kolvenbach. The General Father, in his speech, renews his faith in the Old Boys that should help actively the Institutes through the Associations. He has also firmly hoped for the creation, according to the decree n° 13 of the latest General Congregation, of an "ideal community" of Former Alumni/ae both Jesuits and laymen in which each identity may be enhanced, through the co-operation, the mutual listening, sharing together the apostolic tradition of the "Compagnia di Gesù".
In occasion of the 50^th anniversary the "Project of the Italian Federation among the Associations of Old Boys of the "Compagnia di Gesù", containing the program, has been presented.
According to the spirit of the General Congregation and in respect of the own identity and differences of each single Federation, the program, with its 6 main points, aims:

• to promote the exchange among the Federations and commit oneself in order to live the evangelic values of friendship and solidarity;
• to allow the Federation to make appeals, presenting problems or making requests and suggestions in front of the Province of Italy of the "Compagnia di Gesù";
• to work hard in favour of the schools of the Fathers and generally speaking, of all the Catholic schools;
• to commit oneself in order to be "men and women for the others" that is to say people who can live following the word of Saint Ignatius "En todo amar y servir".

ARGENTINA
Dear Fabio, I would like to update you on the activities of our Federation through this short report:

1. Regarding our work for the poor and the needed, with the participation of some alumni Medical Doctors, we are running a health service in a poor and remote area from our city called "Alto Verde". They lacked this essential service before we got there.
2. Relating to our work with the Jesuit Schools, we updated the Library and the bookstore of our school. We named this service after brother Jose M. Figueroa S.J. who was the doorman of the school for many years and is in the process of canonization. This service is offered to 1500 students.
3. We are also contributing to an scholarship fund for students in need.
4. We have established Gold and Silver distinctions for outstanding alumni which are given at graduation time in school.
5. We are giving a reward, on the name of past alumni, to the work of alumni in their final year for their notorious work on different areas.
6. Our soccer league is growing. We have now 22 participant teams.
7. We attended, with great success, to Ignatian Spiritual Exercises given by Fr. Carlos Cravenna S.J.
8. On November 6 we will have the annual dinner of Alumni. We estimate that some 300 alumni will attend since this will be the closing of the week of the alumni.
9. On November 12, 13 and 14 we will have the IV Congress of the Argentinian Federation of Jesuit Alumni/ae. We expect some alumni from Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile and Peru to join us in the city of San José de los Ríos where the meeting will be held.

BRAZIL
The following is our summary of news:

1. We are already mobilized for preparing the XIV National Meeting in Teresina, Piaui, Corpus Christi of year 2000. All nuclei and associations will prepare a technical card in order to make their communication about works, challenges and conquests easier. We will discuss a single project, according to the proposal of El Salvador, including, if possible, our views to Lima, 2001.
2. We have also a nucleus in process of being established: alumni of closed down Colegio de Sao Salvador /RS; a Minor Seminar of the Society of Jesus is being organized, after having a great meeting. When we were asked if we agreed on it, we accepted, and we declared that our doors were opened. The formal entrance will be in the Piaui Meeting.
3. The National Representative was in Florianapolis / SC, where he met the ASIA-BRASIL Secretariat in a work session. Later, he met the Directorate of ASIA-BRASILIAE, which groups alumni of the Federal Capital. A retreat week-end was carried out, for people admitted in the Society of Jesus´ Cultural Center.
4. For year 2000 (500 years since the discovering of Brazil by the Portuguese Fleet of Pedro Álvares Cabral), recently elected director of the Casa de Retiros Río de Janeiro, and alumni of Colegio San Luis, in Sao Paulo, Pe. Custodio Spencer, S.J, organizes retreats for alumni/ae in all Brazil. I was invited to conduct a pray meeting. In ASIA-BRASIL the divulgation of the event already begun. This will be held in April, after Holy Week.
5. Most part of projects of our nuclei and associations deal with education, in any way. It means that we consider good quality and integral education as a process of liberation, culturization and religious, undoubtedly.

PERU
Dear Fabio, I'm glad to receive the August edition of the ETC newsletter with important and informative news from other parts of the world and the news about our National Congress that will take place next year in Tacna. With the associations of San Jose, Arequipa and San Luis Gonzaga we will meet and we hope to formalize and consolidate the Peruvian Federation of Jesuit Alumni/ae. We are awaiting comments from our hosts in Tacna.
On July 26 Fr. Felipe Mc.Gregor S.J. was honored with the great order of "El Sol" of Peru in the highest rank. On October 5 we held a banquet on his honor. Also on August 20, three of our alumni received the Pontifical distinction for their work and life achievements in favor of the church and the poor which shows the public dimension of Jesuit alumni in our social life.
We are working on our website now. We will advise you once it is established. We are also mailing the third number of our newsletter "Gasetasia".
With my best regards
Jose Luis Camborda
ASIA Inmaculada Lima

MEXICO
Dear Fabio, according to your request, please find enclosed the latest news on the Mexican Federation of Jesuit Alumni/ae / ASIA Mexico).

1. During November 27 and 28 in the Universidad Iberoamericana de León in Guanajuato there will be a Quarterly meeting of the Council of our Federation. The hosts for this meeting will be a young group of alumni/ae of that University who have been preparing with enthusiasm the integration of the Jesuit alumni/ae in that city. The association in León will group not only the University alumni/ae but those of the Lux Institute and other Jesuit Educational Institutions in the city, as well as any Jesuit alumni/ae and friends living in the city.
2. At our meeting we are awaiting good news from the alumni/ae of the Iberoamerican University at Plantel Laguna de Torreeón Coahuila, since they are thinking on forming their own association or joining the association ASIA Laguna with the School Carlos Pereyra which is already formed.
3. Institution Patria Tercer Milenio A.C. Thanks to the active work of the Board of ASIA Mexico and the help of the Jesuits, the following has been achieved:
1. We already formalized the constitution of the association that will work on the educational project which we expect to repeat on other places in the country, with the collaboration of alumni/ae and friends.
2. Institute Los Reyes- La Paz. This institution already has the land for constructing its own building, the architectonic project and the donors. There are also a couple of foundations that will provide scholarships for the alumni/ae registered.
3. School at México City. This institution is looking at several possibilities for their location. At the end of November there will be a presentation of the educational project and the financial campaign for the construction.
4. The applications for being admitted in these two new institutions will be opened at the beginning of the year 2000 and classes will hopefully start in September of that year.

• As lay people with Ignatian Christian background, we believe in the construction of a world with truth, justice, liberty, peace and love under the light of the Evangelius.
• We know that the service to the faith and the promotion of justice must be practiced always with a preferential love for the poor and the needed, starting with a culturization approach.
• We believe in maintaining an ongoing integral formation, deepening in our capacity of love and service being men and women for and with others.
• We believe in recognizing and working on our apostolic possibilities in our lives and work, responsibly being an active part of our Church.
• We believe that the authority and power invested in each one of us must be devoted to the wellbeing and the service of others in the construction of God's Kingdom.
• We know that we have to give testimony of the Evangelius committed to the mission of the church in our daily life and in our worship to the major glory of God.
• We believe in breaking with those teachings that are individualistic, and in developing attitudes that favor our advance together in a common union.

• USD 100 for secondary school associations
• USD 200 for higher education associations

• the money should be collected at the level of national federations or, when these federations do not exist, by continental delegates to the World Union Council;
• the national federations or the continental delegates are entitled to retain up to 30% of the money collected, in order to help financing their own projects for poor people and refugees;
• the money collected is to be sent in US dollars to the bank account of the World Union mentioned above for the payment of the membership dues with the mention : for the "Association mondiale Pedro Arrupe" (Arrupe dollar).