From 3-7 July 2006 the Jesuits in South Africa and their co-workers gathered for their annual Regional Meeting at Coolock House near Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal. Much of the meeting was spent reflecting on the lives of St. Ignatius Loyola, St. Francis Xavier and Blessed Peter Favre, the first three companions who together constituted the beginnings of the Society of Jesus. The world-wide Society of Jesus is celebrating a jubilee year. Xavier and Favre were both born 500 years ago while Ignatius died 450 years ago. At the meeting time was given to prayerful reflection on all the ministries Jesuits are currently involved in and how these ministries are still shaped by the vision of the early companions. Jesuits were reminded that they are called to live the ideals of their brothers who have gone before them, often on the frontiers seeking to find God in all things.

There are Jesuits working in Gauteng, Cape Town and KwaZulu-Natal so the time together provides a space for them to share their own experiences of the various apostolates they are engaged in. The gathering was addressed by the Provincial of the British Province, Fr. Michael Holman SJ, as the South African Region is part of the British Province. The moderator of the African Assistancy, Fr. Fratern Masawe SJ, was also in attendance. He spoke about the wide ranging works which are being done by Jesuits on the continent. These include AJAN (African Jesuits Aids Network), JRS (Jesuit Refugee Service) and a number of institutes of higher education and formation.

	Annual Regional Meeting of the Jesuits in South Africa, July 2006 From top left to bottom right: Russell Pollitt, David Rowan, Bruce Botha, Graham Pugin, Michael Gallagher, Thomas Plastow, Kevin McElhatton, David Dryden, Chris Chatteris, Paul Nicholson, Shaun carls and Gerry Lorriman, Michael Austin, Puleng Matsaneng, Michael Lewis, Michael Holman (Provincial), Fratern Masawe (Moderator of JESAM), Annemarie Campbell, Brian McClorry.