SJES ROME

I am a Spanish Jesuit, 82 years of age, the last 22 of which I have spent in the Peruvian rainforest. I write fromthe parish of Chiriaco, in the province of Bagua in the Amazonas region, where I was sent inthe year 2009.

I have for the past three years worked in a service called Connexions as part of my regency, which I entered shortly after completing my Masters in Counselling Psychology at Boston College.

In the month of January 2014 I was visiting various educational centres of our Christian organizations in the four dioceses of Gujarat, India. Primarily I had to interview a few students with disabilities and non-disabilities, their parents and principals, in order to assess the impact of the inclusive education in their respective educational institutions.

The Integral Sport Program –PEI(ProgramaEsporteIntegral) isone ofthe social projects of theCitizenship and Social ActionJesuit Network.Itisaprogram locatedatUniversidade do ValedoRiodosSinos–UNISINOS,a JesuitUniversityinsouthofBrazil.

The devastating earthquake that hit Nepal on 25th April affected the lives of about 8 million Nepalese, leaving us with fear, tears and sorrows. But, it's said, "instead of cursing darkness, it's better to light a candle."

Fourteen years ago, I took as a Jesuit my first steps into the prison, and I entered in the history of the lives of those who live there. I had not realized how delicate the situation was until I found myself for the first time at the door of the prison in Bruges, neither did I understand then how rich an experience it would be.

For the past decade, the US has experienced a crisis about border security and immigration policy – with a particular question about what to do with the 11 million immigrants who live and work in the shadows of the U.S.

Being a young, optimistic, enthusiastic and charismatic catholic, I am strongly moved by ecology and how people behave on matters to do with ecology. The environment is a gift given to us by God.

Labor migration from the Philippines continues to rise, as employment prospects, both for skilled and non-skilled workers, in the country remain limited. At present, there are roughly 10 million Filipino international migrant workers all over the world.

It all began with an idea, a dream. It was born out of an experience of close encounter with the poor tribals during my regency. I was in a far away rural area 100 kms from Nashik. At that time it was still very primitive. We did not even have toilets!