South Asia Jesuits review their faith-justice mission

In panel discussions they deliberated if the Society of Jesus in South Asia had failed to respond to the mandate of faith and justice.

Bhopal:  Jesuits engaged in social action in South Asia concluded a three-day convention Oct. 11 reviewing their work against the needs of the poor in the region and the mandate given by their congregation.

Some 95 Jesuits at met in Bhopal to review their faith-justice mission in the light of Degree 4 of the General Congregation of the Society of Jesus, which said: “the Society should commit itself to work for the promotion of justice”.

The convention also marked the 40th year of the 32nd General Congregation that stated: “The mission of the Society of Jesus today is the service of faith, of which the promotion of justice is an absolute requirement.”

Each day of the convention had deliberations on the themes like: Tracing the Past & Remembering Landmarks; Discerning the Present & Deepening Our Commitment; and Way Forward.

Provincial of South Asia Father Edward inaugurated the convention, which had participants also from outside India.

Delivering the keynote address, Fr Ambrose pointed out that in the current situation the faith-justice mission should take on the corporate power. He added that the need of the hour for the Jesuits is to reinvent faith-justice mission so as to build people’s consciousness and build justice.

In her special address, Ms Teesta Setalvad, Secretary, Citizens for Justice and Peace, drew the attention of the Jesuits to the emerging socio-political situation in India that imperils dalits, adivasis, and minorities. She urged the Jesuits to live out their faith-justice mission by rising in defence of democracy and secularism.

The convention took a historical overview of Jesuits' faith-justice mission since the 32nd General Congregation of the Society. In panel discussions they deliberated if the Society of Jesus in South Asia had failed to respond to the mandate of faith and justice.

They affirmed their successes and failures, and took note of the challenges.

The participants concluded the convention stressing that the faith-justice mission defined their identity as Jesuits and that they should prioritise prophetic engagements over institutionalised ministries.

The convention was organised by Jesuits in Social Action (JESA), which is the Social Action Sector of the Society of Jesus in South Asia. JESA is the coordinating organ of the social-action works of the 18 provinces and two regions in South Asian Assistancy, which comprises of India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

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