Detroit Province of the Society of Jesus - Fr. Adolfo Nicolas, S.J.

Fr. Adolfo Nicolás, S.J. Superior General of the worldwide Society of Jesus January 19, 2008


	Fr. Adolfo Nicolás, S.J., was elected the 30th Superior General of the Society of Jesus on January 19, 2008.


Adolfo was born on April 29, 1936, in Villamuriel de Cerrato, Spain, about 4 miles from the capital city Palencia. When Adolfo was 4 years old, his father, a military professional, was transferred from Palencia to Barcelona. After attending grade school in Barcelona, Adolfo attended the Jaime Balmes Institute for his 1st year of high school [a seven year program at that time in Spain]. He did his 2nd and 3rd year at the Christian Brothers' school in Barcelona. In 1949 he transferred to what was then the Minor Seminary of Saint Joseph that the Tarraconense Province of the Society of Jesus ran in the town of Roquetas del Mar and did his 4th year of high school there. In 1950 Adolfo's father was transferred to Madrid and Adolfo completed his remaining three years of secondary education at Areneros Jesuit High School, graduating in 1953 with the highest distinction the school granted, that of "príncipe".

On September 15, 1953 Adolfo entered the Jesuit novitiate in Aranjuez in what was then the Province of Toledo. His philosophy studies were done at Alcala de Henares, obtaining a Ph.L. in 1960. He then went to Japan for language studies. During the years of 1964-1968 he studied theology in Tokyo. Adolfo was ordained to the priesthood in Tokyo on March 17, 1967. From 1968 to 1971 he did his doctoral work at the Gregorian University in Rome and wrote a doctoral dissertation entitled: "Theology of Progress."

In 1971 Adolfo became Professor of Systematic Theology at Sophia University in Tokyo. From 1978 to 1984 he was director of the Pastoral Institute in Manila , Philippines. This Institute was formed after Vatican II to work on aggiornamento (literally meaning "bringing up to date") and has had wide influence in the theological renewal of all of Asia.

From 1991 to 1993 Adolfo was Rector of the house of Jesuit students in Tokyo. In 1993 he was made Provincial of Japan and in that capacity he attended General Congregation 34 in 1995. He finished his term as Provincial in 1999.

In 2000, after many years working in governance for the Society of Jesus, Adolfo moved to a poor parish of immigrants in Tokyo where he worked until 2003. Adolfo's love for the poor and oppressed came to the forefront of his life as he ministered to, and saw first-hand the suffering of, the thousands of Philippino and Asian immigrants living in Tokyo.

In 2004 Adolfo was again called to exercise the ministry of governance in the Society of Jesus when he was named Moderator of the Jesuit Conference of East Asia and Oceania. In this governance position, Adolfo was responsible for the entire region of South Asia, from Myanmar (Burma) to East Timor, including the newly formed China Province.

On January 19, 2008, Adolfo was elected the 30th Superior General of the Society of Jesus by the members of the 35th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus.


By the way, Adolfo speaks six languages: Spanish, Catalan, Japanese, English, French, and Italian.

	[translated from the web page of the Province of Castille]

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