Archive - January 2025

Counting Friends and Years

Thanks to all of you who have sent birthday wishes—by phone, email, and every app known to humankind. It’s a reminder that birthdays aren’t just for counting years; they’re for counting friends. And really, what greater blessing do we get to enjoy than the friends who make life richer? So, thank you for being one of mine.

Francis X. Hezel, SJ, is a Jesuit priest who has lived and worked in Micronesia since 1963. At different times he has served as high school teacher, school administrator, pastor, and regional superior to the Jesuits of Micronesia. He spent thirty years directing the Micronesian Seminar, a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Pohnpei, Micronesia.

He has written and spoken widely about social change and its impact on island societies. He has also written several books on Micronesian history, including The First Taint of Civilization, Strangers in Their Own Land, and The New Shape of Old Island Cultures. His most recent book, Making Sense of Micronesia: The Logic of Pacific Island Culture, is available through University of Hawaii Press.