Dear JAAI Friends,

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the twin blows to the Jesuit Alumni fraternity during the past couple of days, with the passing away of 2 stalwarts of the World Union Of Jesuit Alumni  (WUJA). Mr.Fabio Tobon the Past President of WUJA and President of the Organizing Committee of the forth coming World Congress in Medellin passed away on 16th July 2013, while Mr. Tom Bosch the current President of WUJA passed away suddenly on 17th July 2013

JAAI members who attended the JAAI Patna National Congress would recall that the WUJA representatives who attended that congress included Mr. Fabio Tobon and Mr.Tom Bosch who both made a passionate plea to the Indian Jesuit Alumni to attend the Medellin Congress in large number. We are sharing a photograph from the Patna National Congress which was graced by the presence of both these gentlemen. Given below is a tribute to Mr. Fabio Tobon and an extract of the email from Mr. Alain Deneef, Vice-President WUJA on the sudden passing away of these two stalwarts of WUJA.

JAAI condoles the death of these stalwarts. May their souls rest in Peace.

THE LEADER HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY FROM US

Mr. Fabio Tobon, the lighthouse behind the global Jesuit Alumna/ae movement is no more. He left for his eternal  journey on 16th July 2013.

Before his passing away, Fabio it seems, had put in every breath of his last moments on earth,into leading all of us towards the forthcoming World Congress, WUJA 2013, to be held at Medellin, Colombia, between 14-17 August.

Fabio is rejoicing with the Lord. We too can do our bit by making WUJA all the more vibrant in dear Fabio's memory.

Rest in peace maravillaso Fabio.

Extract of email of Mr. Alain Deneef Vice-President WUJA

Subject: Re: Tom Bausch is in heaven

Dear Members of the Council, dear Friends of WUJA,

I'm struck and deeply saddened by the terrible news of Tom Bausch's passing this morning, one day after our former president Fabio Tobon died.

We were together in Cleveland three weeks ago, François-Xavier had him on the phone last Monday and we planned a Skype conference next Sunday to further prepare the congress.

These are two terrible blows to our World Union and to the lasting friendships we had developed throughout the years with these two great men and respected leaders.

While we knew for a long time that Fabio was severely ill, Tom's death is unexpected and brutal. God's ways are unpredictable. The president of the organizing committee of the world congress in Medellin and the president of WUJA who would have chaired it have both gone away.

Let us all join in prayer for them and their families.

I am confident that we will make of the world congress of Medellin the best tribute to

Fabio's and Tom's lives and achievements.

Best regards.

Alain Deneef
Vice-President