Ateneo de Zamboanga University is marking two significant milestones this year: the 150th anniversary of the return of the Jesuits to the country and the start the celebrations leading to the university’s 100th founding anniversary in 2012.
On July 3, the Ateneo community will gather to mark the twin celebration with a mass at 10 am at the Multi-Purpose Covered Courts.
The celebration is billed “En la Compañia de los Jesuitas: Re-Living Memories, Continuing Legacies”.
In the afternoon of the same day, noted historian Fr. Jose S. Arcilla, SJ will give a public lecture on the Jesuits return to Mindanao and the Beginnings of Ateneo de Zamboanga. The lecture will be held at the Carlos Dominguez Conference Hall at 2:30 pm.
Immediately after the lecture, an exhibit on “The Jesuits in Mindanao since their Return” and “The Ateneo de Zamboanga in Retrospect” will open later on the same day.
The first Jesuits actually arrived in the country almost 500 years ago. While they were primarily missionaries, even then, as now, they were already deeply involved in the education of Filipinos.
However, in the eighteenth century, the Society of Jesus fell out of favor with colonial powers and Catholic royalties. They were expelled from their areas, including the Philippines.
After decades of persecution and suppression, the Jesuit congregation was reinstated. On June 13, 1859, almost a hundred years after they were expelled from the country, ten Jesuits arrived in the Philippines, mainly to do missionary work in Mindanao and Jolo.
