Jesuits in South Asia get new leader

(January 22, 2009) Jesuit Father Edward S. Mudavassery has been appointed Provincial Superior of Jesuits in South Asia region, a press release from Jesuits said. The 65-year old priest plans to assume office on 31 May 2009, succeeding Father Hector D’Souza who had been occupying the office since 2004. Father D’Souza made the announcement in a January 21 press release saying Jesuit Superior General Father Adolfo Nicolás made the appointment. The south Asia provincial is responsible for Jesuits work in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Pakistan. In India, they work in 20 different administrative units--18 Provinces and two regions. The Provincial of South Asia, who is also the president of the Jesuit Conference South Asia, will animate and coordinate a wide-range of educational and socially oriented activities. He also has direct responsibility for the Jesuit national training institutions located in Chennai, Pune, Delhi and Bangalore. Fr. Edward had done his studies in Chennai, Rome and Ireland and has specialized in Psychology and Counselling. Father Edward is currently the Rector of Jesuit’s Vidyajyoti College of Theology in Delhi. He was born in 1944 and entered the Society of Jesus on 20 June 1963. He was ordained a priest on 18 May 1976 and made the final commitment in the Society of Jesus on 21 June 1986. He served as Novice Master for 8 years before being appointed as Provincial of Hazaribagh.