Social Justice

Mark Raper SJ (AUS) reflects on the process of establishing the JRS as a tangible manifestation of communal Ignatian discernment, inspired by the approach of Pedro Arrupe. Drawing on his experience, Mark outlines the key elements of a truly communal discernment process. Through accompaniment, prayerful listening, and careful analysis of reality, discerning God's will leads us to make risky decisions that constitute a prophetic faith–justice response, transcending ideology.

We are now rescuing a text entitled "Spirituality of Social Action", written by Darío Mollá SJ (ESP) in 2007 for Promotio Iustitiae nº 94. From his experience of working with immigrants, with people deprived of their freedom, with the formation of Jesuits and lay people -among many other ministries he has exercised- Darío invites us to enter into the mystical experience that social action entails "when the entry of the poor into our lives is so interior that it dispossesses us and frees us from ourselves", allowing us to work with patience, compassion and hope in the construction of reconciliation and justice, experiencing history as a Gift from God.

The Jesuitenweltweit (magazine of the Central Europe Jesuit Province) recently interviewed Fr. Roberto Jaramillo about the 32nd General Congregation (GC 32), its impact since Vatican II, and its importance to 21st-century global issues. The conversation also covers Jaramillo’s experiences and insights from living among the Amazonian Indigenous Peoples and how GC 32’s legacy influences his current role as the SJ Secretary for Social Justice and Ecology.

This article reflects on the life and legacy of Pedro Arrupe, SJ, emphasizing his authenticity, humility, and Gospel-rooted leadership. It highlights how his deep faith, cultural sensitivity, and commitment to justice shaped the Jesuit mission in a rapidly changing world. Even in illness and marginalization, Arrupe remained a man of prayer and joyful trust, offering a timeless witness for today’s challenges.

The article, written in 1994, calls on Jesuits to become more environmentally conscious and take local, practical actions to address the global ecological crisis. It emphasises eco-spirituality rooted in solidarity with the poor and the Earth and encourages discernment and humility. Jesuits can contribute to healing the Earth through justice, interrelatedness, and conservation.

John Surette shares a powerful vision, urging the Society of Jesus to embrace humanity's and the Earth's interconnectedness. The metaphor of building a cathedral highlights the need for a greater purpose in addressing environmental challenges, calling for passionate love and action rooted in social justice and environmental stewardship.

The awareness is also growing that a peace without justice is not peace. This makes us see clearly the roots of violence: cultural marginalisation, economic injustice, and political domination.

At St. Joseph’s Development Programmes, our top priority is ensuring the safety and protection of all individuals within our organisation. To achieve this, we have implemented a comprehensive safeguarding program.

If the victim is left alone, the abuse continues. However, if victims have not only one person but a whole network of courageous solidarity in their own community and institution, there is a much greater chance that they will step forward.

After decades of its promotion by Paraguayan activists, the International Day of Friendship was first recognized by the UN General Assembly in 2011 in the hopes that the promotion of friendship between the various nations and cultures of our world might lead to greater peace.