Spirituality

When I started my journey, I thought I was going to have a career in social work; instead, I have found a vocation. While my vocation has not been a call to the religious life it has been a clear and persistent call to a ministry deeply rooted in my faith.

The UAPs confirm the social apostolate as an important ministry of the Society of Jesus. Besides serving directly people in need, the UAPs also remind us that the path we seek to stand with the poor is one that promotes social justice...

I considered my engagement in social issues an essential component of my faith. I was and continue to be deeply convinced that our faith calls us to have a preferential option for the poor. This means to always seek to understand the world from the perspective of those who live in the margins, and to work actively for social and political change to transform oppressive structures. For me, my faith was a call to be radical.

At this point, my journey to not only understand but to become a co-laborer in the Jesuit social apostolate began. It was contextualized in the witness of the martyrs who intertwined pastoral work and academic rigor with social analysis and projection that responded to the realities of their place and time.

I realize more and more that my life is a gift. In and through this gift, the Lord is revealing himself to me and he is toiling and labouring...

I was introduced to Ignatian spirituality about twenty years ago during my religious formation. Looking back, I believe that this prepared me for this special journey and mission.

As a young 18-year-old woman, I set off on adventures to many far-away places. I worked as a volunteer in Aboriginal communities

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.

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.

I am Elba Polanco. At some point in my life, I discovered that serving was one of my passions. I feel I have a sensitivity which allows me to enjoy, when I serve, helping other people. Moreover, my learning to serve was fostered in great measure by seeing my father passionately serving other people; the rest is history, as God has taken care of infusing me with His grace.