Passion

Over the course of the week, I have managed to have a couple conversations with folks who work in Jesuit parishes and deal directly with the social ministries at the parish. The conversations were somewhat directed by some questions that I have regarding how best to get Jesuit parishes to talk to one another:

-Do you think you would talk to one another, given the opportunity and the availability of a space for doing so?

-What does it mean to be a part of a Jesuit parish as opposed to a parish run by other religious orders or the diocese? Put another way: what is distinctive about being a Jesuit parish and how does that shape your social ministry?

-What are the benefits of having a network? What needs would this fulfill?

These questions are not terribly exciting; I realize that! But they are important and lead to the excitement that I encountered with one person I contacted (refered to as "J"). During the course of our conversation, I asked her about if being a Jesuit parish mattered. J answered with an exasperated, YES! And went on to add that at her parish, there is determination to be socially aware and active in the community. They offer various services, or at least provide resources for people to get access to those services, and are sadly ill-equiped to deal with the mounting needs that exist in the community. She added that the other parishes in the area were not doing nearly enough. With regards to social justice education, she quipped: "Catholic Social Teaching never gets mentioned anywhere else from my observations." This last point resonated with a comment I heard during an undergraduate course in Social Ethics that Catholic Social Teaching is the best-kept secret in the Church. The truth of such a statement is somewhat humorous at first glance, but becomes somewhat disheartening and frustrating when one considers the invaluable wealth available within our Catholic tradition to try to analyze the social problems before us.

A further point that J made was that a huge need she saw for why a network between Jesuit parishes would be beneficial was the prospect of greater solidarity. Solidarity, in this case, fits in quite well with the Vision of the Ignatian Solidarity Network:

Grounded in the spiritual vision of St. Ignatius of Loyola and committed to “the gospel of Jesus Christ in which faith and justice are undivided” (Pedro Arrupe, S.J.), the Ignatian Solidarity Network (ISN) unites Jesuit institutions and the broader Ignatian family for a transformative experience of solidarity.

Inspired by the witness of the Salvadoran martyrs, ISN is committed to serving the next generation of leaders who will shape the church’s work for faith-justice. ISN strives to create a community of empowered individuals and institutions rooted in Christian faith, committed to Gospel justice, and united in a common purpose.

I truly believe that we have an opportunity here at ISN to strengthen and deepen our community in solidarity if we include Jesuit parishes. J's own experience at her parish - including great challenges and frustrations as well as joy and success - is something that she wishes to share with others across the country. If we at ISN provide space, the directors of social ministry could have a place to build solidarity and be truly empowered by and empowering for others. And they would be united in the Gospel, the vision of Ignatius and towards the common pursuit of justice and peace.

Of course, ideas like this sound good on paper (or on a blog!), but require creativity, time and collaboration to find their way into the concrete. But this insight into the power of solidarity in the midst of overwhelming social injustice and struggles can produce hope if we trust in the Spirit of Christ to guide it.