Spirituality of Social Action
Ms. Claire Brandeleer Centre Avec, Brussels, Belgium
For last two years I have worked in Centre Avec, the research and social action centre in the South Belgium-Luxembourg province.
Our mission is to raise the public's awareness of social issues of a local and global nature, giving people the means of working towards a more just society.
Part of our work is dedicated to reflection and research.
Another aspect of it is to give space to ideas and actions promoting increased responsibility for the humanisation of the world, something to which every human being is called.
We make our contribution to this goal through the publication of the quarterly review "En question", and by organising conferences.
The situations and individuals, both closest to my heart and which most grab my attention, are those people who suffer the effects of the diverse crises affecting the world today - economic, environmental, financial, social, as well as the crisis of meaning. Many people in the West live comfortably, but have difficulty finding meaning in their lives. Individualism is a doctrine which just gets stronger and stronger. One situation that appals me, and is becoming more increasingly worse, is economic inequality, both within and between countries. I have the impression that inequality generates a fear of the other; we not only fear the other who appals us, but we are also afraid of the feeling that these inequalities are not sustainable, and that we will be forced to live with less. But consumerism is so absorbing that this would require a real cultural change; a change of the order of spiritual conversion. This is why I think that spirituality offers a real lever to meet today's challenges, provided it is understood as a space of inner freedom where human beings can direct their desires, in a deeply developed commitment to change the structures of society. In this sense, all citizen action is spiritual.
What gives me hope and a great joy in these crisis situations is the multitude of civil society initiatives which make the world more united, socially just and ecologically sustainable. There are a lot of women and men of good will who put a face to the motto "another world is possible". A lot of them discover that there is joy in living frugally. The discovery of this plethora of alternatives to the dominant neo-liberal model has changed my outlook on life; and I try to make choices drawing inspiration from this awareness. I acknowledge God is present and at work in this crowd of people who, in taking on their responsibilities, work for the kingdom of God... without necessarily putting these words into their engagement.
Ever since I started working in Centre Avec, I have gradually discovered the richness of Ignatian spirituality. I find it a support in my work, by virtue of its underlying call for freedom and human responsibility. The Ignatian network, by virtue of the community which it built, is also of precious support to me. The arrival of witnesses invited to Centre Avec - (such as Fernando Lopez SJ of the Itinerant team in Amazonia or Paolo Dall'Oglio SJ from Syria) - pushes me, nourishes me and give me the sustenance to go on, both personally and professionally.
Ms. Claire Brandeleer
Centre Avec, Brussels, Belgium
