Another Filipino priest to lead Jesuit mission in Asia-Pacific

By CBCP News

The head of the Jesuit order, Rev. Fr. Arturo Sosa, SJ, has appointed another Filipino to oversee the congregation’s mission work in Asia-Pacific region.

Fr. Primitivo Viray Sr will take over the post as president of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP) from Fr. Antonio Moreno, who served since 2017.

As JCAP’s head, Viray will be “collaborating with the Major Superiors in the Jesuit conference in implementing the decrees of the last General Congregations.”

He will likewise serve as the major superior of the Jesuits in Pakistan, the newest mission territory of JCAP.

In a decree dated June 13, Fr. Arturo Sosa, the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, expressed confidence on Viray’s “integrity and prudence” to lead JCAP.

Fr. Primitivo Viray Jr, SJ, the new president of the

Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific. (Photo from JCAP)

Viray is currently the Provincial of the Philippine Jesuit Province and a member of Ateneo de Naga and Ateneo de Manila’s Board of Trustees.

In 2011 -2017 he was President of Ateneo de Naga University (AdNU) and assumed the role of Superior of the Jesuits in Naga. He was President of AdNU and Chair of the Jesuit Higher Education Commission prior to his appointment as Provincial.

With his rich experience in education, advocacy, and formation work, the congregation said Viray “brings invaluable expertise to his new mission”.

The JCAP covers the life and service of the Society of Jesus in 17 countries in Asia and the Pacific.

It is also one of the six Jesuit Conferences that coordinate and facilitate their mission around the world.

The approximately 1,600 Jesuits in the JCAP account for about 10 percent of the total number of Jesuits in the world.

The date of Viray’s formal assumption into his new post has yet to be announced.