Fr. Cristóbal Fones SJ, International Director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, recently completed an apostolic journey through the Asia Pacific region, strengthening ties with local communities and national teams while promoting the mission of the Network and its international initiatives: The Way of the Heart, Click To Pray, and The Pope Video.
From February 17 to 19, he visited the city of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia alongside Fr. Alberto Irenus SJ, national and continental coordinator, where he met with members of the local network. In a gathering with more than 300 people from various parishes, they celebrated the Eucharist and held a session to discuss the identity and mission of the work, with the presence of the president of the Episcopal Conference. They also connected with the work supported by the network in collaboration with the Jesuit Refugee Service, particularly in welcoming people arriving from Myanmar to the country.
On February 20 and 21, Fr. Fones traveled with the continental coordinator to Singapore, where he held important meetings with the Apostolic Nuncio, the vicar general of the archdiocese, and the communication representatives of Catholic News, as well as participated in meetings with volunteer organizations.
From February 22 to 27, the visit continued in Indonesia with an intense agenda in both Jakarta and Yogyakarta, organized by the national team. This included visits to places of religious and cultural significance, a visit to the foundation that promotes the publications of the Prayer Network, and meetings with young people and communities. A special event was the musical concert prepared in Yogyakarta, where the national coordinator, Fr. Antonius Sumarwan SJ, resides. The concert explored the 9 steps of The Way of the Heart through songs, featuring extraordinary local musicians and a profound spiritual sense.
Finally, the last part of the apostolic journey took place in East Timor, in the context of the six-month anniversary of Pope Francis’ visit to the island. There, along with the national coordinator, Fr. Venâncio da Costa Pereira SJ, they visited communities in the three different dioceses of the country, celebrating and sharing moments of formation and the Eucharist with numerous groups from the Apostleship of Prayer and the Eucharistic Youth Movement.
Throughout his journey across these four countries in the Asia Pacific region, Fr. Cristóbal Fones SJ emphasized the importance of prayer, the mission of compassion for the world, and the personal encounter with Jesus as fundamental elements of the mission of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network. His visit served to revitalize the commitment of local communities to this global initiative that seeks to respond to the challenges of humanity and the Church’s mission through prayer and concrete action.
