Responding

How do aid agencies fund their support of people displaced by rebellion? Cooperation. Congo is one example of countries suffering from rebellion, “murder and mayhem.” The Irish Jesuit News recently posted that the “Irish Jesuit Mission Office...is linking up with all the mission offices of Europe in a joint effort to meet the challenging chaos of the Congo.” More about the appeal, the role of Jesuit Refugee Services [JRS] educating the displaced children and several photos give a feel for what is addressed in the Congo alone.

Also: Early in January an Irish Jesuit began to coordinate Jesuit rapid response for “the tortured land of Syria.” Two informative websites are offered in the announcement.

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Wiki-image of flag of DRC is in the public domain.

The Elephant

Jesuit Father Greg Boyle has been working with youth at risk for over 20 years in Los Angeles. He established Homeboy Industries: it is now coed; is a multifaceted ministry; and trains young people for work. When Fr. Boyle cautioned that seeing the shootings and deaths in Newton, Connecticut, last month, from a distant, “aerial view” prevents reaching solutions, his long experience increases his credibility.

“When we take our views lower, we know we need to address guns and we need to address mental illness,” Fr. Boyle said. “The elephant in the room is mental health, which is something I see more and more with the gang population with whom I work.”

Fr. Boyle is not alone. In her response to that massacre forensic psychologist, Karen Franklin, noted that U.S. “culture...glorifies violence.” That blunts outrage and prevents outrage from leading to concrete solutions. Instead, the country indulges in “more hand-wringing.”

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Wiki-image by Bbjeter of makeshift memorial at Sandy Hook used by CC BY-SA 3.0.

Death and Food

For those who stay in Syria, the chances of death at home is high. For those who live food and shelter are at a premium. The Jesuit Refugee Service helps with the latter by its emergency response there. Yet as each day passes, death emerges ever more violent. 

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Wiki-image by Bartez of Allepo (before violence) used by CC BY-SA 3.0.

Christians in the Middle East

Jesuit Fr. Samir Khalil Samir, S.J., professor of History of Arab Culture and Islamic Studies, is an “expert in interreligious dialogue in Rome and Beirut.” Zenit published a transcript of an interview with Fr. Samir, “conducted by Mark Riedemann for ‘Where God Weeps,’ a weekly TV & radio show produced by Catholic Radio & Television Network in conjunction with the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need.” Fr. Samir offered a more detailed look at Christians in the Middle East.

More audio interviews are available at this page at Where God Weeps. 

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Wiki-image of NASA screenshot of Middle East is in the public domain.

Great SHOT

Jesuit John Staudenmaier, recipient of the Leonardo da Vinci Medal by the Society for the History of Technology, an

international organization dedicated to the historical study of technology and how it relates to politics, economics, the environment, science and the arts, received a written question over a decade ago.

“Sooner or later you owe it to your secular friends and colleagues to say where and how faith makes a real difference in how we and you think.  Surely it must, or you would in effect be encouraging a trivialization of faith. Isn't there just a faint conspiracy (between you and your secular friends) to glide over that rock bottom distinction?”

Fr. Staudenmaier used his talk last November at his reception of the medal to answer that question. His talk is available as a podcast; access it at this UDMcast page.

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Wiki-image of Leonardo DaVinci is in the public domain in the U.S.

Parish Pastor in Jordan

Invited to serve English-speaking Catholics in Amman, Jordan, a pastor serves a broad spectrum of foreign nationals in that country. Jesuit Father Kevin O'Connell shares that as well as personal insights in this video.

One Million More

The Jesuit Relief Services reaches out to many people affected by the draught and its effects in Somalia. It needs help.

Jesuit Map Found!

The "Impossible Black Tulip," so called because the map was for centuries so difficult to find, shows China at the center of the world. Jesuit Fr. Matteo Ricci, who explored China and even frequented the imperial court, had drawn the map in the early 17th- Century. It "was the first in Chinese to show the Americas and the first printed map to incorporate both Eastern and Western cartography."

It currently is on display in the Library of Congress, according to the Jesuit publication, Company Magazine.

Ignatian Blog Follows Climate-Conference Proceedings. . .

. . .in Copenhagen

With entries in both English and Spanish, Jesuits José Ignacio García and Jacques Haers post to the IgnatianEconet's Blog: Meeting Point for Faith and Ecology. Their brief description invites participation.

On the occasion of the COP 15 meeting at Copenhagen, the Ignatian Network on Environment starts up this blog. José-Ignacio Garcia and Jacques Haers, both Jesuits active at OCIPE in Brussels (Belgium) will offer food for thought and discussion. We hope that readers will actively participate and share their own opinions and ideas.

The blog links to other climate-related sites.