Social Justice & Ecology

Social justice has long been at the heart of the mission of the Society. Our mission today is the service of faith, of which the promotion of justice is an absolute requirement. This makes the Jesuit Social Ministry a fundamental aspect of the Society’s work. The elements of the Jesuit Social Ministry are direct service of those in need, social and cultural analysis, theological reflection on questions of injustice; and campaigning alongside others who strive to make our world a more just place.

The Jesuit Social Ministry in Asia Pacific is active in Australia, where one umbrella organisation, Jesuit Social Services, brings together a huge range of services for young offenders, for indigenous persons and for others in need. In the Philippines, where a different strategy is employed, a great variety of Jesuit sponsored organisations exist, sometimes cooperating in a loose network. Among them are John J Carroll Institute on Church and Social Issues. The Jesuit Refugee Service is perhaps the best-known Jesuit social justice organisation.

In addition, the Jesuits in Asia Pacific agreed in 2010 to two priority engagements as a Conference. These are migration and ecology.