SJES ROME

At the beginning of this experience, I must confess that it was not easy to see among those lined up the human beings with stories to tell, with dreams and aspirations, with the desire to start living a 'normal' life again, and with friends and relatives left behind who knows where in the world.

The Secretariat has released on its website this week its annual report for the year 2022. Here is the text of the Secretary, Xavier Jeyaraj SJ who opens the report and presents its substance.

For decades, numerous actors from civil society, academia, the Church and other Churches, human rights activists, organisations and migrants and refugees have been calling for a transformation of migration policies and structures that implement them in Mexico and throughout the continent.

In the years since Laudato si’, the Society of Jesus and her ministries have found novel ways to act on Pope Francis’ call to protect not just the environment, but the people who are most vulnerable to the environmental consequences of unsustainable business practices.

A two-session training and exchange session aimed at teachers from FLACSI schools, in which, through real-life stories of people in situations of forced migration, we offer an update on the migration context in the region and some tools for awareness-raising work with students.

At a time of spiritual reflection during the soon-to-conclude Holy Week, it is also important to reflect on ACLO's developing work among the Pueblos Indígenas Originarios Campesinos (PIOC) and the Población Urbana Popular (PUP) in the Southern Region of Bolivia. High social and economic vulnerability and the effects of climate change characterise our work but with significant potential for cultural, ancestral and harmonious living in the community.

The first version of the Escuela de la Paz (Peace School) was held in Sucre City from 31 March to 2 April 2023 in the Azari retreat house. It aims to bring transformation in people through dialogue for constructive change of conflicts. Now, Sucre has its first Peace School.

“The government speaks of human rights violations as collateral damage [to the anti-gang crusade], effectively inciting people toward vengeance,” but “The gospel calls us to pursue dialogue,” Fr. José Tojeira, S.J., said in an interview with America.

Ecology leaders from the Jesuit Justice and Ecology Network Africa (JENA), the Amazon region, and Latin American Jesuit Higher Education joined parishioners from the Metro New York Catholic Climate Movement, Christian Life Community members, and several students from area Jesuit high schools. (Photo from Ann Marie Brennan)

Jesuit Social Services’ Annual Dinner made a return this year after a hiatus amidst the pandemic and Senator Malarndirri McCarthy was the key speaker on the night that focused on social justice.