The commitment to social justice is not marginal to the mission; it is at the heart. [55]
In his encyclical, Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis underlined that work for justice is a sine qua non for a community committed to authentic faith:
|
|
“An authentic faith – which is never comfortable or completely personal – always involves a deep desire to change the world, to transmit values, to leave this earth somehow better than we found it. We love this magnificent planet on which God has put us, and we love the human family that dwells here, with all its tragedies and struggles, its hopes and aspirations, its strengths and weaknesses. The earth is our common home and all of us are brothers and sisters. If indeed the just ordering of society and of the state is a central responsibility of politics, the Church cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice.” [56]
|
|
Connect with the Office of Justice and Ecology
Hi! My name is Harrison Hanvey, and I recently joined the Jesuit Conference’s Office of Justice and Ecology (OJE) as our Manager of Outreach and Partnerships. Our office helps coordinate advocacy at the federal level for issues that our Jesuit family cares about – think poverty alleviation, just immigration reform, or legislation that protects the environment, to name a few.
|
|
We work with many Jesuit ministries, parishes, universities, and schools, so I hope to connect with your school as well in the coming months! Please contact me at jcmop@jesuits.org with any questions.
|
|
Faith in Action Founder John Baumann Brings Theology to Life for Thousands of Catholics
|
|
Lifelong community organizer, Fr. John Baumann, SJ, co-founded the grassroots community organizing network Faith in Action in 1972.
“Community organizing gives people the tools that they need to fight for justice and work toward a more equitable society,” says Fr. Baumann. “It creates a world where everyone belongs, can thrive and has a say in decisions that shape their lives.”
|
|
Check out these other justice stories recently produced by OJE: |
|
Justice in Action: Seattle Jesuit Student Spends Six Weeks in Costa Rica as Part of the AMIGOS Scholarship Program
|
|
Anne Herb ’25 was able to spend six weeks in Santa Maria de Dota, Costa Rica, through the generosity of a scholarship for students at Jesuit high schools with the AMIGOS program. Anne spent her days working on a coffee farm, learning about the production process and about the farmers’ union in this town. Anne lived with a local host family, speaking Spanish with them for her six week stay. Anne was really touched by how the community supported each other, by the people for the people.
|
|
Anne was deeply impacted by her experience. She says, “We judge from far away but going into a community helps you learn so much and be much more empathetic. I realized the impact the United States has had on Latin American countries. I’m now researching about the banana republic. I’m reading Harvest of Empire and recommend watching the Ted Ed Dark History of Bananas."
|
|
Promoting Ecological Justice
One way the Global Identifier #5, Jesuit schools are committed to Justice, is present at Fordham Prep is through our work to promote ecological justice. Helping our students recognize that their actions can have a direct impact on the environment occurs each day through our efforts to become a zero waste school. Our composting program and installation last year of a fountain drink system to replace plastic bottles afford students opportunities each day to promote environmental sustainability in our community. Our environmental club and Ecoram program also give them leadership roles in promoting ecological justice.
|
|
We also look for opportunities for our students to learn and be inspired by the work of others throughout the world to promote ecological justice. In September, Fordham Prep's Global Scholars welcomed Mr. Allen Ottaro, the founder of Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa. Mr. Ottaro was in New York to attend the UN Summit on Sustainable Development Goals. He spoke to the students about his environmental advocacy work in Africa and the disproportionate impact of climate change on developing countries on the continent.
|
|
Scranton Prep Students Participate in Service-Immersion Program in Belize
When a group of Province educators was in Belize for a service-immersion experience in the summer of 2021, Fr. Matt Ruhl, S.J., the pastor of St. Peter Claver parish in Punta Gorda, challenged the group – “It is great that your schools come to Belize City to work. What about coming to help at my school?” Scranton Preparatory School responded.
Seventeen rising Scranton Prep senior boys and girls were fortunate to be the guests of St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in Punta Gorda, Belize, this past July. Traveling with this group were Prep’s President, *Father A.J. Rizzo, S.J., Principal, Kristin Cupillari, and College Admissions Counselor, Todd Bailey.
The parish, directed by Father Matthew Ruhl, S.J., serves over 30 local villages as well as 30 schools, which educate over 5,000 students. Living in the parish guest house, the enthusiastic rising seniors spent the week constructing a 100-foot sidewalk and a footbridge for Saint Peter Claver School, as well as landscaping the campus, and providing support in the parish office for families who were seeking assistance with uniform orders, textbooks, and scholarships.
In addition to evening reflections at the parish guest house, the group celebrated Mass at the parish and at the home of the parish mission director. In their non-working time they had the opportunity to visit the town market area, a local water fall, and a local Caye. Prep will return with a new group in June 2024.
|
|
*Fr. Angelo Rizzo, S.J. had been in southern Belize during his pilgrimage experience as a novice and was able to introduce the Scranton Prep group to the area and culture in this first step of building a new relationship between these two communities.
|
|
|
Justice in *Jesuit Schools
*The word "Jesuit" contains all of the same letters as ‘"Justice" – pretty cool, huh?!
So many of us who work in Jesuit schools or educational networks, and perhaps even those who attended Jesuit schools, are familiar with the phrase “Men and Women for Others.” Many schools use this as their motto. But how many of us have reflected recently – or ever – on the true meaning of these words? In what context did Pedro Arrupe first utter these words? What does it really mean to educate our students to become men and women for – and with – others? How are we doing this?
What about the rest of this seminal speech which Arrupe delivered in 1973? “… only “spiritual” persons – in the sense of men or women who are led by the Spirit – will in the long run be able to be persons for others, persons for justice, persons capable of contributing to a true transformation of the world that will eliminate from it the structures of sin.” How deeply are we engaging with the spiritual aspect of becoming men and women for others? These are some of the questions and reflections which have been sparked by the 50th anniversary of Pedro Arrupe’s famous speech.
We will be celebrating this anniversary as a global network by coming together in Global Discernment Circles on November 9. We're delighted to see the participation for these reflection circles is almost at capacity, but we're aware that not everyone will be able to participate. With this in mind, we would like to share some other resources which can be used for reflection and discussion in your schools - with your teachers, your colleagues, your students, or perhaps for your own individual reflection.
You may wish to:
|
|
JRS Day Resources
This November 14, join JRS/USA in recognizing the legacy of our founder Fr. Pedro Arrupe, S.J. JRS Day is a time to reflect on JRS’s past while recognizing the need to continue our mission of accompanying, serving, and advocating for and with refugees as over 110 million people are currently forcibly displaced worldwide. For this year’s JRS Day, JRS/USA developed a new resource entitled “People For And With Others” which commemorates Fr. Arrupe’s now famous call for personal and social change.
We encourage teachers and students to explore this resource and use it to recognize, and reflect upon, the lives and contributions of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons whether it be in the classroom, during a school prayer service, or at a special school event. JRS also developed a new prayer card asking for Fr. Arrupe’s continued intervention so that we can continue our mission as long as a need exists. If you're interested in receiving hard copies of the prayer card, please email clara.sayans@jrsusa.org.
|
|
Attend an ISN Education for Justice Demonstration
Interested in learning more about classroom-related resources to help students learn more about social justice and Catholic Social Teaching? Please join Education for Justice in its free quarterly site demonstration of resources, prayers, and activities for secondary educators. Attendees will receive a discount on their first year of membership for attending the demo.
|
|
Laudate Deum Shares Call to Action
Pope Francis' new apostolic exhortation Laudate Deum shares an urgent call to action, particularly for Western countries like the United States, to reduce carbon emissions in order to safeguard the planet and the people who inhabit it. ISN created three short videos that summarize the document, include important quotes from each section, and provide reflection question.
|
|
AMIGOS Scholarships for Summer Service Programs in Latin America
|
|
Global Voices for Human Rights and A Sustainable Future
Despite language barriers, students from different countries and diverse backgrounds met to shed light on the global challenges of human rights and environmental degradation through two Connected Classroom activities. The success of these meetings can be attributed to the remarkable preparation and dedication of the participating students.
|
|
Standing in Solidarity With Those Who are Marginalized and Cast Out, Those Who Don't Make the Headlines
Fr. Sunny Jacob S.J. highlights a touching short video produced by the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network, which may help Jesuit educators and students reflect on the injustices so many are facing. In the video, which contains the prayer intention for September, Pope Francis asks us some deep and provoking questions.
|
|
Nelson Mandela United South Africa Through Sport!
In collaboration with Educate Magis, Rahul Mukherji shares the fourth episode of Sportingly+ titled, Nelson Mandela United South Africa Through Sport! In this episode, we share how Nelson Mandela used the power of sports to unify and rebuild the image of South Africa as one nation. Nelson Mandela is widely recognized for his involvement in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. He was among the first global leaders to understand the potential of sport in generating social change.
|
|
Students from De Smet Jesuit High School created a Prayer Booklet as part of De Smet's Ignatian Global Scholars new Global Anchor Course. We invite you to use the prayers as a reminder of our call as Ignatian Global Citizens: Showing the Way to God.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
