Xavier Network Meets in Paris

The Network of Jesuit Mission Offices and NGOs from Europe, Australia and North America met in Paris from October 19-21,   for one of its two annual meetings. This network, in operation since 2004, is under the responsibility of  the European Conference of Provincials,  but  brings together Jesuit  organizations from across the globe.  

Along with the  leaders  of each member organization, we were joined by the President of the European Conference, Frank Janin, SJ and his social delegate Filipe Martins, SJ. At this meeting we also welcomed  Joseph Seok SJ, director of GIPUM NANUM, a Jesuit mission and development organization in Korea, with whom we have established links in recent years. Fr Joseph gave an overview of the work and challenges of our sister organization in South Korea.

At the meeting, the Xavier Network continued its work on an emergency protocol which builds on the experience of the last 14 years responding to humanitarian emergencies as Jesuits.  Following a previous conversation with the conference presidents , the XN has added an  annex to the protocol, which proposes  ways to coordinate  with other Jesuit actors in the first phase  of emergencies. We were able to use the lessons learned from the recent experience of the current emergency in Ukraine.  

One of the most interesting moments of the meeting was an open dialogue on the strategic direction of the 14 organizations that make up this network. We shared questions and reflections on the organizational model, how to embody our mission and how we each visualize our organizations in the next 10 years. The possibilities of networking and collaboration are immense as the group has already shown through its  coordinated work on international projects, advocacy, emergency and volunteer work. At this meeting we began exploring new cross-cutting groups such as recruitment and compliance.

The issue of child safeguarding has been one of the keys of cooperation  in recent years. The evolution of this process has been important and all the organizations are now  implementing basic requirements to ensure the safeguarding of children in all the projects financed by the network. A package of resource materials for partners and tools for validating implementation of procedures is now in place. Special attention is being given to the conversation with the directors of works, provincias, l directors and with networks such as Fe y Alegría or JRS, which are key actors with which we collaborate.  At each network meeting there is a detailed follow-up on the fulfillment of the commitments of each member of the network and the deployment in their projects and institutional relations.

The three days of meeting full of productive working sessions, helped to build our common mission. The many years of experience of this network are also noticeable in the deep relationships and friendship among members of the teams, which translates into a truly remarkable atmosphere of friendship and shared mission. Maison Lasalle in Paris, close to the Jesuit Curia and the Sevres Center, was perfect for this meeting. On Thursday evening we had the luxury of a memorable boat ride on the Seine, where we celebrated our bonds as a global group, committed to a mission that we are trying to energize together .