A strategic plan for social apostolate in Portugal.

The Portuguese Provincial Jose Frazão Correia has approved recently a Strategic Plan for the social sector of the Portuguese Province. The Province has a long tradition of social presence in poor neighborhoods of Lisbon and Oporto, working with migrants and refugees, volunteer groups of secondary and university youth, and sending adult volunteers abroad. But till recently each one of the institutions worked in a very autonomous way. It was in early 2014 when a new social commission CAS (“Comissão de Apostolado Social”) was set, and 2014-15 was dedicated to the evaluation of these social institutions (in connection with the general evaluation of all other institutions of the Province). Then the idea of a Strategic Plan arose, and this was the work of the 11-people-comission during 2015-16, also receiving inputs from many other people (Jesuits, employees and volunteers). The document was finally approved by the Provincial, and presents 5 strategic guidelines (formation, communication and working together, research and advocacy, connecting with others, financial sustainability), 9 strategic objectives, and several measurable goals to be achieved in a 3-years period. As the Provincial writes in the approval letter, “this Plan will foster a common attitude and way of procedure among workers and volunteers of the social sector, [...] in order to serve better the Lord in the poor and in those in need”.