Just a few weeks ago, I blogged about Fr. Adolfo Nicolas, S.J. (lovingly called Fr. Nico) being selected the new Jesuit General. In that post was a lengthy speech on Fr. Nico given by Fr. Danny Huang, Provincial Superior of the Philippine Jesuits.
A few days ago, we got another bit of bittersweet news. Our beloved Fr. Danny, whose humorous and yet profound homilies were well-known, was appointed by Fr. Nico as one of his 10 Regional Assistants and will be in charge of East Asia-Oceania.
This appointment means that Fr. Danny will be posted in Rome. It will mean a change of the guards as a new Provincial Superior is sought from among the Philippine Jesuits. In Fr. Danny’s own words:
“I think my deepest regret is that the Province will have to be inconvenienced because of my new mission. It is clear that this assignment means, not just a little sacrifice on my part, but also sacrifice on the part of the Province. Plans for the future now have to re-adjusted, and will involve some disappointment and dying to self on the part of others beyond myself. I am consoled however that Fr. General and other members of the Congregation have acknowledged and expressed gratitude for the “sacrifice” on the part of the Philippine Province. I am deeply consoled too by the response of many Jesuits and lay partners from our Province who have texted or emailed me, expressing their sadness but also their strong desire to subordinate the good of the Province to the good of the universal Society, their simple acceptance of the will of God.”
I have mixed emotions about this. The selfish part of me wishes he could spend more years in the Philippines as his term has been vibrant and filled with wonderful achievements and plans for the Philippine Province. Our family will likewise miss him. But looking back at how he became head of the Philippine Jesuits at a young age, I can see that that was a divine preparation for this new mission.
(our boys with Fr. Danny)
In a response to his appointment, Fr. Danny admits to being overwhelmed and wonders if he can even begin to learn Italian at his age (48) to get by in Rome. But in the same breath, he exhibits that faith and trust in the Lord’s plans by adding: “I thank God that I am at peace, grateful that I can serve Fr. General and the Society in this new way. I trust that if this is God’s will that I am accepting, He will take care of me and of the Province, and He will guide me along the way that unfolds from this day.”
We will all miss Fr. Danny when he takes up his post in Rome. Let us all continue to pray for him and his mission.