Collaboration and Networking for Harmony

The 20th JESA Convention was held at PG Block, JDV, Pune from 12-15 October, 2017, on the theme ‘Collaboration and Networking for Harmony’. 101 Jesuits of the Social Action Ministry from South Asian Assistancy participated in the Convention. Fr. George Pattery (POSA) dwelt upon the challenges of consumerism, individualism, globalization, liberalism, crisis of leadership, ecological crisis, migration and fundamentalism. POSA added that Lok Manch is an initiative in the direction of reconciliation, collaboration and networking. Fr. Xavier Jeyaraj (SJES-Rome) in a key note address presented Fr. General’s message with reference to the challenges for South Asia — being with the marginalized, reconciliation for a just social structure and with environment, sevice of faith and intellectual apostolate, discernment and collaboration and apostolic planning for the Good News. Provincials Fr. Arun D’Souza (BOM) and Fr. Francis Parmar (GUJ) challenged JESA to be more effective at the grassroot level.

On 13 October, Fr. Wendell D’Cruz and Fr. Ranjit Tigga spoke on reconciliation and justice in our context. Fr. Wendell emphasized that God is labouring in the world in the form of self-help groups, watershed management, non-formal education, peoples’ movements, sustainable economic development, etc. Presenting the tribal situation in the assistancy Fr. Ranjit Tigga said that there is acute poverty, land alienation, low literacy rate, high dropout rate, poor health and hygiene, migration, human trafficking, demographic decline, fundamentalism, naxalism, etc. Fr. PR John and Fr. Stan Fernandes spoke on Governance:Discernment, Collaboration and Networking. PR John (Principal, VJ, Delhi) informed that VJ is collaborating with people, for example, students joining ‘Karvan e Mohabat’ (A journey of atonement and love), and elaborated on the prison ministry, help to the suffering people post the earthquake in Nepal and participating in ‘Dharnas’ on peoples’ issues at Jantar Mantar, Delhi. Stan Fernandes shared his experience of the plight of Bangladeshi refugees. According to him, governance should be at the service of the mission.

Fr. Denzil Fernandes (Executive Director, ISI, Delhi) presented the JCSA Statement and its implication for Jesuit Social Action. Fr. Benny and Fr. Dilip Tirkey shared the situation of their countries. Fr. Benny said that in Srilanka there is external peace but internal conflict. Fr. Dilip Tirkey said that in Nepal, social work mostly consists in rehabilitation work after the earthquake, in collaboration with the government and NGOs.

On 14 October, Mr. Amithabh Behr, a social activist from Pune, shared his rich experience on collaboration, networking and advocacy for harmony with civil societies and the government. Mr. Harsh Mander, the leader of ‘Karvan-e-mohabbat’ spoke of the need of a new leadership. Fr. Martin Puthussery spoke on distressed migration, saying its major causes are unemplyoment, poverty and starvation, non-implementation of MNREGA, ST/CS sub-plan, failure of agriculture activities, forced displacement, defective governmental policies, caste and communal unrest. Lourdes Baptista reminded the participants with regard to SWOT.

The afternoon was devoted to Mr. Anand Patwardhan (Film-maker) for his insights on media, harmony and society. In the evening there was the zonal group discussion for action plan. On 15 October, the zonal discussion focussed on prioritising issues and action plans for zones and provinces. A written evaluation of the Convention was carried out.

The POSA congratulated the organisers on the success of the Convention and reminded that the staircase of heaven always goes downards. Sannybhai thanked every one for active participation. He infomed that the next CSAs meeting will be held at ISI Delhi from 8-10 March, 2018 and the zonal workshop of the central zone from 2-4 July, 2018, with a view to taking forward the spirit of the Convention and GC 36. The next Convention will be held in 2020 in the north zone. Fr. Xavier Jeyara, in his final blessing said that the spirit is moving in the whole house and in each one. The vote of thanks was proposed by Fr. Tony Dias.

The convention was an opportunity for deepening the understanding and spirit of GC 36 and trying to articulate it in personal and community life and mission.