In a world that is increasingly marked by geopolitical turmoil, war and economic instability, many people have been forced into varying degrees of displacement. In this environment, the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) has been at the forefront of providing hope and support to those most in need.
JRS operates globally as an apostolate of the Society of Jesus, grounded in its universal charism of reconciliation and justice. It embodies the Society’s mission to promote reconciliation and justice worldwide. This mission guides JRS in addressing global challenges, such as refugee crises and forced migration, through careful discernment, aiming to achieve the most universal good with limited resources.
As explained on their website, JRS was founded in November 1980 by the late Fr Pedro Arrupe SJ, the then Superior General of the Society of Jesus, to respond to the plight of Vietnamese refugees fleeing their war-ravaged homeland.
Following the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, hundreds of thousands of South Vietnamese fled their homes, setting out in overcrowded boats across the South China Sea. Many did not survive the journey; they were killed by pirates or drowned because of storms and rough seas. In this fraught context, Fr Arrupe felt compelled to act. He called on the Jesuits “to bring at least some relief to such a tragic situation”.
Accordingly, Fr Arrupe wrote to over 50 Jesuit provinces regarding the situation, recognising that the Jesuits, then numbering 27,000 men across the world, were well placed to coordinate a global humanitarian response. As conflicts broke out in Central and Latin America, southeastern Europe, and across Africa, JRS rapidly expanded from helping Vietnamese boat people in a few camps in South-East Asia to working with refugees around the world.
In the words of Fr Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, Superior General of The Society of Jesus from 1983-2008, “We try to place special emphasis on being with and doing with, rather than doing for. We want our presence among refugees to be one of sharing with them, of accompaniment, of walking together along the same path.”
Nearly 20 years after JRS was founded, it was officially registered as a foundation of the Vatican City State on 19 March 2000.
In the past year, earthquakes in Syria and Afghanistan, increased violence in Congo, Myanmar and Ukraine, the outbreak of conflict in Sudan and the rising aggression in the Middle East have all contributed to the ongoing humanitarian emergencies that threaten the lives and well-being of countless individuals.
In addition, migration policies across Latin America, Europe, East Asia and the United States have become increasingly restrictive. As borders tighten, the future of our global community is under scrutiny.
In 2023, amidst these challenges, JRS was able to touch the lives of 1.2 million refugees and forcibly displaced people in 57 countries around the world, providing mental health and psychosocial support, education, livelihoods and reconciliation, enabling communities to rebuild their lives and envision a brighter future. Beyond direct assistance, JRS also advocated for policy changes, emphasising the dignity and rights of displaced individuals, and remaining alongside those who know the value of those who respond with love.
Last month, from 24-29 June, the Centro Carmelo in Sassone, near Rome, hosted a gathering of 83 Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) representatives. These delegates, who hold various operational and management roles at global, regional and national levels, convened to discuss the future strategic framework of JRS. This meeting marked an unprecedented event in the organisation’s history.
A pivotal moment was the visit of Fr General Arturo Sosa, on Wednesday, 26 June. His presence was immensely reassuring as he shared his vision and encouragement, instilling hope and a renewed sense of purpose among the attendees. Fr Sosa’s visit underscored JRS’s collective commitment to serving those in need and emphasised the importance of unity in mission. He reminded JRS of its origins and reinforced the foundational values that guide its efforts.
Fr Sosa also highlighted the importance of grounding JRS in the sensitivity that has been crucial in responding to the needs of forcibly displaced people. This sensitivity empowers the organization’s members to dedicate their lives to reconciliation, justice, and peace, and to utilize their talents effectively in collaboration with others.
More so, he emphasised the foundational values of the Society of Jesus, noting that JRS’s identity is deeply rooted in the charism of the Society of Jesus. This charism is viewed not as a human construct but as a gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church, guiding JRS in its mission to accompany, serve, and advocate for forcibly displaced individuals.
Central to JRS’s mission is reconciliation – among people, with the environment, and with God. Aligned with the Universal Apostolic Preferences (2019-2029), JRS seeks to guide humanity towards God, support marginalised populations, empower youth, and care for the environment. Fr Sosa reiterated the need for JRS to maintain a global-local approach, leveraging its worldwide structure to address the complex issues of forced migration effectively. This approach ensures a cohesive identity and mission rooted in the Society’s universal charism, facilitating impactful actions to accompany, serve, and advocate for refugees and migrants around the globe.
To succeed in the future, Fr Sosa highlighted two critical challenges:
- Fostering a deeply shared identity among JRS members and
- Enhancing the reception and integration of refugees.
This involves ongoing programs to cultivate this shared identity and developing strategies to counter ideological resistance and promote democratic values.
Fr Sosa’s visit reinforced JRS’s commitment to empathy and reconciliation, urging members to embrace the suffering of others and work towards alleviating it.
His poignant words will continue to influence JRS’s strategic direction and the organisation’s sensitivity to those they serve: “If you are not reconciled, you cannot truly share the mission. We are sent on a mission of reconciliation. If we are not reconciled with ourselves, how can we share this mission with others? We must contemplate the cross with all its suffering, understanding how situations place people on the cross, creating injustice and suffering. But we must not stop there.
“The next step is to place ourselves on the cross, seeing and feeling reality from this perspective as those who suffer, and from there, choose reconciliation… The cross does not inflict harm. By choosing to embrace the cross, we choose empathy and strive to alleviate suffering, seeking pathways of renewal and redemption, not perpetuating further pain but working towards reconciliation.”
Read more about JRS and its decades of accompaniment to those who need it most.
Banner image by alexandrumagurean, Canva.