INTRODUCTION
The mission statement of the Ignatian Solidarity Network states that the aim of ISN is to promote “leadership and advocacy” among Jesuit schools, parishes and ministries by facilitating and empowering a national network that unites them all in their common commitment to the “service of faith and the promotion of justice.” This mission arises out of a vision rooted in the spirituality of St. Ignatius Loyola, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the witness of the Salvadoran martyrs, and is made concrete through the community fostered by the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice and other ISN events. Living out the mission of ISN is an ongoing effort and thus we must continually discern how we can better foster solidarity among the institutions we seek to serve in our network. In our discernment, we have determined that there is great opportunity for growth in our networking with Jesuit parishes and have taken some initial steps to explore how this can be accomplished.
FOUNDATIONS
Three salient points form the foundation for this initiative: the parish as a Spirit-filled and engaged social entity, the Jesuits’ identification of collaboration at the heart of mission, and the identified need for more networking at the parish level. Ignacio Ellacuría, one of the Salvadoran martyrs and rector of the Jesuit university in San Salvador, wrote that the university “must transform and enlighten the society in which it lives.”[i] Such a statement applies also, although manifested differently, to Jesuit parishes. With St. Ignatius of Loyola and in the light of the Gospel, each parish community must ask: “What have I done for Christ in this world? What am I doing now? And above all, what should I do?”[ii]
The work of transformation can be strengthened through collaboration. In the most recent General Congregation, the Society of Jesus notes the importance of “explor[ing] . . . ways to promote and support an ‘Ignatian Family’ or ‘Ignatian Community’ which will have a common vision of service, will promote networks of mutual support, and will foster new and closer forms of collaboration locally, regionally, and internationally.”[iii] This recommendation resonates deeply with the mission of ISN and offers us fresh encouragement to facilitate greater collaboration among Jesuit parishes by amplifying and building upon the collaborative work already being accomplished.
Finally, the Jesuit parish network initiative arises from the identified needs of social ministry staff at parishes and ISN’s own discernment of how we can better serve these parishes. Three goals have been pinpointed through ongoing and collaborative discernment: the desire for greater solidarity and communication between parish social ministries, the recognition of the importance of Ignatian identity and Jesuit presence, and the potential for sharing of resources and ‘best practices’. How to make these goals a concrete reality remains a task to be worked out.
ACTION STEPS
Since an initial information gathering meeting at the 2010 Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice, ISN has conducted one-on-one interviews with parish social ministry staff members, pastors and provincial staff; identified contacts for social ministry for almost all Jesuit parishes across the country; and developed a survey that has been sent to every Jesuit parish. Building upon this information gathering, further recommendations are: to develop small think tanks for social ministry staff members to brainstorm together; to hold another brainstorming session at the 2011 IFTJ; and to work closely with each province in the development of regional parish networks that would supplement a national network.
CONCLUSION
Although the final shape of ISN’s work with Jesuit parishes is yet to be determined, ISN desires to facilitate among the parishes an organic process of solidarity in the “service of faith and the promotion of justice.” This will be done by providing a space for Jesuit parishes to come together and work alongside one another as well as students and colleagues from other Jesuit institutions in service to their parishes, local communities, the Society of Jesus, the Church and the world – in the spirit of the Gospel.
[i] From Ignacio Ellacuría’s lecture at Santa Clara University, June 12, 1982.
[ii] Ibid. A paraphrase of the Spiritual Exercises, §56.
[iii] GC 35, Decree 6, §29b.
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