SJES ROME

In the pan-amazonian area, presence of Jesuits has always been highlighted. In fact, last week, in an interview published by Religion Digital, the Cardinal Pedro Barreto, also a Jesuit, defined the Amazon as "the most forgotten area of ​​the planet”.

Pope Francis has chosen 2019 to hold a Synod on the Amazon. The subject is without precedent. It is not about creation, water, or even rivers. It is about the Amazon. It is certainly not an internal Church matter, but it is a matter of universal concern. The Synod has been launched and this will be the year.

Thumka Danda is a village located at Roshi Rural Municipality in Kavrepalanchowk District. The villagers have to walk for two or more hours daily to fetch water carrying it on a bamboo-basket in plastic bottles.

It is not an easy time to be an immigrant in the United States. Leaders at the highest level of government vilify immigrants and those who hope to seek better lives for their families here. Myths and inaccurate political talking points abound.

Within the Central Rupununi region (Guyana), where we live, we have been listening to the hopes, dreams and struggles of the people in the sixteen villages we serve. These communities are predominantly indigenous and the villages are composed of people from two of the nine indigenous nations of Guyana: the Macushi and the Wapichan.

Social Justice and Ecology Secretariat (SJES) commemorates its Fiftieth year in 2019 as announced by Fr. General. We is grateful to Elías López, SJ for helping to design the logo with the assistance of Comillas University, Madrid.

Economically, the country was experiencing run-away hyper-inflation that set a new world record. There was shortage of basic goods in shops, and when they were available their prices simply prevented the majority poor from accessing them, especially given that many had been rendered jobless by the closure of several companies.

The retreat was very difficult—after being woken up by a gong at 4:30 am, and spending numerous sessions in silent meditation with only two small meals of brown rice and steamed vegetables, by the early evening most of my own meditation centred on food.

My grandparents had great hopes of seeing brighter days, when the British brought them to Assam, to work in the tea gardens. They did not really see a better life but they worked hard and did not starve. I did not see them. My father was born in Assam and never saw the birthplace of his parents in Jharkhand.

I first started with CEPAS to work on their Congo-Afrique journal, the centre's organ of communication which publishes articles on topics such as; the economy, politics, and social and cultural life.