Nüremberg welcomes Xavier Network

The crisis in Venezuela, international disaster relief and child protection in projects worldwide were on the agenda of the meeting in the first week of March. The Xavier Network consists of 13 Jesuit missions and Jesuit NGOs from Europe, Canada and Australia.

The Xavier Network – founded in 2004 as a foundation – is an international mission and development partnership between Jesuit organizations, united in their commitment to global justice and the conviction that they can achieve more through the joint action. The member organizations are represented in over 87 countries and carry out development and aid projects in close cooperation with local partners. Common ground is a basic understanding of solidarity and justice rooted in the principles of the Society of Jesus.

The network meets twice per year and has four active working groups on emergencies, volunteers, common projects and advocacy. The main activity in common is the support to their current strategic partners, that are Fe y Alegría in África, Jesuit Refugee Service and the Amazonian project with the CPAL conference.

Three main topics have focused the work on these days:

(1) Implementation of procedures for the protection and promotion of a culture of Safeguarding of minors and vulnerable population both in our institutions and the partners with whom we develop overseas projects.

(2) Advancing our advocacy work linked to the GIAN Networks and the themes of our strategic programs as Xavier Network.

(3) Reviewing our work in emergencies and programs to plan and project next steps and new initiatives. We review the programs on Amazonia, FyA África, Nepal, Philippines, and a special focus on the Venezuelan situation and promising next steps of Fe y Alegría in Asia. We had also time to talk with Tom Smolich on the potential synergies of this network with the Jesuit Refugee Service International Office.

Initially conceived as a European Network of Mission Offices and Jesuit NGO’s, the network has been quickly transform on the widest platform for coordination of Mission and Development Agencies in the Jesuit apostolic landscape. Currently Xavier Network has 13 members that include agencies not only from Europe but also from Canada and Australia. Representatives from United States, Korea and the Claver Network (Development offices of CPAL) have attended this meeting in Nuremberg in search of wider levels of coordination.