EVERYBODY'S CHALLENGE - Jesuit Refugee Service | USA

Arrupe privately that solutions to the fact that 600 million people
lived in absolute poverty and that 15,000 people died each day, were
possible, but no country would give up its privileges. This made a
deep impression on Arrupe. It was, he believed, unacceptable.
For me, this is a good example of the way Fr Arrupe wanted to
meet with others who understood world problems and solutions.
The Jesuit tradition
At that first JRS meeting, Fr Arrupe quoted from the Jesuits Formula
of the Institute and from the commentary on it by Fr Polanco,
the first secretary of the Society: The provision of doctrine and instruction
should be preferred to that of food and clothes unless there is urgent
need such as hunger, in which case we must insist on trying to remedy it.
For the early Society, preference was to be given to the corporal works
in times of catastrophe. So in our day, refugee work must be a priority
for the Society.
Fr Arrupe then gave more reasons, referring to the Jesuit General
Congregations 31 and 32. Our option for the poor and the voiceless
directs us to the refugees who are the least of all in the sense of
Matthew 25. The Society is everywhere and has information covering
the whole world. We are already in contact with international
organisations and are well situated. We speak a lot about insertion –
here is an excellent opportunity. We can help with the complexities
of the problems through our many institutions.
He went on to consider other factors: Such work will be a great
help in developing our own spirit of poverty when we see so many
suffering so much. This work will give us credibility by showing
we are ready to suffer with the people. He ended by saying the following:
I consider this as a new modern apostolate for the Society as a
whole, of great importance for today and the future, and of much spiritual
benefit also for the Society.
What are we already doing?
The second point we considered was: What are we already doing?
Each Regional Assistant reported what was being done in his
Assistancy. A great amount was being done especially in Asia. Fr
Pittau collected money in the streets of Tokyo for the camps in Thai-
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