They are a diverse group of 45 Jesuits, religious and lay colleagues, men
and women and "everyone has an amazing story to share." They
have come from 23 different countries (the Japanese Province member representing
EAO Assistancy was Fr. A. Sali Tharappel). They are here to reflect and
to discern, individually and as a group, on the possible response of the
"Ignatian Family" and its apostolic endeavors to the realities
of war, violence, and the challenge towards sustainable peace in our world
today. "Violence and War, economic and cultural interests" is
the title of the advanced workshop organized by the Social Justice Secretariat
during the first two weeks of September in Santa Severa, near Rome. With
the help of 10 experts and facilitators, the sharing of personal stories,
the discussion of case studies, prayers, plenaries and meetings in small
groups, the group engaged in a process of communal discernment through
an innovative process that follows the pedagogy of the Spiritual Exercises:
a continuous dialogue between a cognitive and an experiential approach.
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The more immediate and concrete result of the workshop, besides the valuable
networking and relationship building that two weeks of intense work together
can create, was the drafting of a document prepared jointly by the group
with the help of an Academic team. "Seeking Peace in a violent world:
new challenges." This was submitted to Fr General, who visited Santa
Severa and talked at length to the group, touching on issues that were
at the heart of the workshop, such as the inseparability of the concept
of peace and war, and forgiveness and reconciliation, drawing largely on
his personal experiences. [Headlines, 3 October 2005]
[HEADLINES is published by the Jesuit Social Justice Secretariat (Rome). It is being
sent to 10,700 addresses in 130 countries. It is also available at the
Jesuit homepage http://www.sjweb.info/sjs/] |
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