The European Network of Social Centres is currently composed by 11 organizations from 9 different countries. They intervene by reflecting, researching, educating and advocating with the purpose of responding to unjust structures that exist within our society.
Social centres are institutions that provide research, offer trainings, promote discussions and raise awareness about the most relevant and actual topics. Many of these centres publish their own journals. They are generally in close contact with local or international decision makers.
They desire a life together in Europe that, inspired by the Ignatian vision, bears witness to the values of reconciliation, promotes the common good, and proclaims a message of justice and liberation with those we serve.
Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an international Catholic organisation with a mission to accompany, serve and advocate for the rights of refugees and others who are forcibly displaced. JRS has its International Office in Rome and 10 Regional Offices overseeing the different areas of the world.
Present in more than 20 countries in Europe, JRS gives direct support to forced migrants and refugees, especially those who are forgotten and in most urgent need. We do that by providing psychosocial and pastoral support in detention centres, legal counselling, education for children and adults, and many social and cultural activities as well as by advocating for structural changes in policies and legislations both at national and European level.
The Europe Regional Office facilitates a network of the Country Offices through common planning and project work.
Web site: https://jrseurope.org/
The Venice Faith and Politics Workshop
The biennial Venice Faith and Politics Workshop invites young people from across Europe to come together to explore the fascinating link between faith and politics.
A network of Jesuit centres and associates has been organising the workshops since 2006, drawing inspiration from European history and the wisdom of the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola.
During the workshops, participants get the opportunity to explore Christian engagement in public life. The ultimate aim is to encourage them to engage for the common good in a world of contradictions.
Promoting the common good involves:
- Public service: justice depends on people who generously respond to a personal call to work with and for others as stewards of creation.
- Discernment: service calls for shared attention to other people’s lives and to the complexity of human motivation.
- Hope: in a world damaged by sin, reconciliation and forgiveness are a source of power.
Link to Faith and Politics workshop site: venicefaithandpolitics.wordpress.com
This network gathers the social delegates from provinces all over Europe. It is coordinated by the JCEP Delegate for Social Apostolate. They celebrate an annual conference and during the year they keep in touch to share information and good practices about some of the main themes:
(1) The significance of social ministry – it may be the best witness we can give at a time when both Church and State are losing credibility. In this context we noted the prompt in GC32 (General Congregation 32) to see social justice as a dimension of all apostolic works and take on the challenge that it implies - to make explicit the link between social action and faith.
(2) The need to stay close to the poor – what form(s) is this to take? There is a broad spectrum – at one end, communities of insertion; at the other, advocacy; and in between, the possibility of many different models of solidarity (including “communities of solidarity”).
(3) Ecological concerns – Researching and advocating in issues related to exploitation of natural resources, consumerism and social problems where Jesuits in particular provinces reflect on the values of secular society.
The Jesuit Network for mission and development
The Xavier Network is an international mission and development partnership between Jesuit organisations working in faith to promote justice.
It is the first such network in the Jesuit world, set up with the simple principle that by joining together we can achieve more.
Its 13 members are the mission offices and NGOs of various Jesuit Provinces across Europe, Canada and Australia. Members are present in over 87 countries, carrying out development and aid projects in close cooperation with local partners.
While distinct agencies, they share a rich faith tradition and long experience working alongside the poorest and most marginalised people, the same fundamental understanding of solidarity and justice, rooted in the principles of the Society of Jesus.
The Xavier Network was legally constituted as a foundation in 2004. The name and inspiration are taken from St Francis Xavier, one of the very first Jesuits, and the logo comes from his signature.
Xavier Network website
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