 Between the 7 and 9 October 2011, the Jesuit Refugee Service and the Boston College Center for Human Rights and International Justice organised a conference on the theological, spiritual, and ethical foundations of JRS service to forcibly displaced persons for academics and JRS field staff. Two outcomes were the publication of the background papers for the conference and the solicitation of further contributions on the subject from JRS staff and theological, spiritual, and ethical specialists. To commemorate the foundation of JRS, on 14 November 1980, the two Jesuit organisations have decided to make these papers available. This section explores the key issues facing JRS staff in their service and advocacy work with refugees and other forcibly displaced migrants. It focuses on serving faith, promoting justice and enhancing inter-religious understanding, while also placing emphasis on how best JRS can, in the words of the Superior General of the Jesuits, Adolfo Nicolás, foster reconciliation and Gospel hospitality. In addition to providing theological, spiritual and ethical resources to assist better those working in this challenging ministry, the papers seek to promote understanding of how JRS shapes its project and advocacy agenda as an Ignatian faith-based organisation. |
