Global Meeting of the Social Sector and its Networks

The Social Justice and Ecology Secretariat – SJES held an annual “face-to-face” meeting at the General Curia in Rome, which was attended by the six delegates of the Social Apostolate of the Provincial Conferences, the leaders of the Global Ignatian Advocacy Networks (GIAN) and the members of a new Advisory Committee. All convened by the Secretary of SJES, Xavier Jeyaraj SJ. Five days of exchange and interpersonal encounters, where the commitment to the work of the GIANs was deepened and strengthened.

The method used in this meeting was directly inspired by Ignatian spirituality: personal and common prayer, spiritual conversation in small groups where listening is an important part of the process, Ignatian examination of what has been lived and steps of discernment to guide the future.

Of the 20 participants, we were able to gather the experience of three of them, which we share below.

Ted Penton SJ – Jesuit Conference of Canada and United States of America

After two years of separation, this week has been a welcome reminder of the value of being together in a face-to-face way. The first day, a day of prayer and sharing, was a special gift and an opportunity to enter into a deeper encounter with one another. When we met with the Pope at the SJES 2019 Jubilee gathering, his final words reminded us to keep prayer at the heart of all that we do, and I am grateful that we set aside so much time for this important part of our week.

I have also especially appreciated the presence of the members of the newly formed SJES Advisory Council. They have provided an enlightening perspective on our shared mission and how we can best carry it out.

Sue Martin – Asia-Pacific Jesuit Conference

It is a privilege, as a lay Ignatian woman from Australia, to participate in the SJES 2022 meeting. Our week in Rome has been an opportunity for dialogue, sharing stories of our struggle over the past two years with the Covid pandemic. One contribution I have made to our meeting has been the prayer on the first day. Our custom in Australia is to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land where we gather; they have walked the land and cared for it for millennia. We begin with a Learning Circle, which is the practice of speaking and listening from the heart.

Throughout the week we have heard calls for greater engagement with the cries of poverty around the world. We are working across the Ignatian family to advocate for those in poverty, especially our Earth, but how might we better collaborate together to raise our voices as the SJES team in Rome, delegates of the Social Apostolate of the Conferences, coordinators of the GIAN networks, and members of the newly formed SJES Advisory Committee? The sharing of all of us on the SJES team has inspired me. We, who are called to help Father General guide the entire Ignatian family on the path of developing the apostolic mission of the Society of Jesus in its dimension of promoting social justice and reconciliation with creation and collaboration with the wider movements of the Church: “we are prophets of a future that is not ours”.

Stany Tirkey SJ – Jesuit Conference of South Asia

God accompanies His chosen ones in His Mission.

When I was told that I was to represent the South Asia Conference at the upcoming Social Justice and Ecology meeting in Rome, in the context of increasingly complex socio-political, social, cultural and religious scenarios, I became nervous and wondered if I was the right person. However, there was an inner strength that kept me confident to recognize this occasion as an opportunity of Grace. I felt it was an occasion to express and represent the voices of my people and community, an opportunity for me, being an indigenous person.

Listening to the companions in the dialogue, I felt that I am not alone. In the midst of diversity, we are one Body working together for the mission of the Lord who, knowing all my limitations, has chosen me. I saw that the problems and the nature of the people’s challenges are similar. In the midst of all the struggles and challenges, there is hope because my people and I are not alone. The unity in the struggles of my people and my own struggle are signs that God has never left me alone; He is accompanying all those who are committed to His mission of establishing the Kingdom of justice, peace, solidarity and reconciliation in each of our contexts.

This news was originally published in jesuits.global