Global – Cannonball Moments Book Launch
On 10 November 2023, the secretariat held a webinar to officially launch the book “Cannonball Moments: Testimonies of Conversion”. Moderated by Benedict Mayaki, participants benefited from presentations from Fr. Paul Béré, who prefaced the book, and two authors of testimonies, Mary Baudouin from the USA and José Yuraszeck from Chile. Xavier Jeyaraj, the secretary of SJES, launched the book and thanked everyone who had worked for this publication.
In Paul Béré’s presentation on “Conversion in Social Justice,” he explored the transformative power of conversion within the context of social justice, drawing from the metaphor of Cannonball Moments and the foundational woundedness of the Church and the Society of Jesus. Béré reflected on the essence of conversion through biblical examples, emphasizing that it involves a profound transformation aligning one’s actions with God’s will. He reiterated how the presence and work amongst the poor can be a source of conversion. Delving into the nature of social justice, Béré contends that poverty, according to Saint Ignatius, is both a “mother” and a “bulwark,” giving birth to an authentic life and protecting fidelity to essentials. He explored the concept of inequality and argued that the conditions of the poor remind us that what we have received is meant for the benefit of all.
In Mary Baudouin’s presentation, “The Gift of Listening to the Poor and Excluded,” she reflected on her deep personal journey of faith and social justice. Growing up in a sheltered environment, she found herself on an unexpected path toward social work during college, guided, as she believes, by the intervention of the Holy Spirit. Through transformative experiences in theology classes and direct encounters with marginalized individuals, Mary underwent a profound conversion, embracing a faith centred on mercy and justice. Her career has been a testament to this commitment, ranging from grassroots organizing to advocacy at the systemic level. Despite facing failures and obstacles, Mary’s humility and resilience, fueled by her faith and collaboration with determined individuals, have sustained her.
In his presentation, hailing from Santiago, Chile, José Fco Yuraszeck reflected on his five-year collaboration with Hogar de Cristo, an organization founded by Saint Alberto Hurtado almost 80 years ago. He shared the transformative impact of Hurtado’s mission, centred on the verbs of ‘welcoming’ and ‘bringing’ people together. Yuraszeck recounted Hurtado’s inspirational life, marked by a profound encounter with a suffering beggar that catalyzed a commitment to service, justice, and solidarity. Drawing on personal experiences, including volunteer work with the terminally ill, Yuraszeck underscored the deep connection between faith, compassion, and social responsibility. As he expressed gratitude for the book’s editor and contributors, he concluded by invoking Hurtado’s timeless call to alleviate pain and uphold justice, envisioning a world where all individuals are treated as equals in alignment with God’s will.
The secretary, Xavier, in his presentation, marked the book’s official launch. He expressed gratitude to participants and acknowledged the influence of Fr. General’s call during the introductory prayer to be open to the Spirit’s guidance. He shared that the publication’s origin is traced to over 150 personal testimonies collected since 2009 and published on the SJES website as stories of conversion to social justice work. The Ignatian Jubilee Year between 2021-2022 provided a unique opportunity to share these treasures with the world. Despite challenges in the editing and publishing process, the dream has materialized, and he said 25 selected testimonies are now presented in the book. The criteria for selection included representation from Conferences, Jesuit-lay perspectives, and personal stories of conversion. Each author was asked, “Why do you do what you do?” He concluded with the book’s unveiling as a testament to the transformative power of inner experiences and the continuous pilgrimage to say ‘Yes’ in the face of challenges.
Download the book here.
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