Your solidarity guides our mission and helps us plan the future of our work with our Jesuit partners to uplift the most vulnerable communities overseas.
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Merry Christmas 2022
We would like to thank all our supporters for their valued and ongoing support this year.
As our office will be closed from 24 December and reopening on 9 January, we leave you with a video Christmas message from our CEO Helen Forde.
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Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Empowered villagers bring clean water to their communities
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On 9 November, we held our latest webinar - Water the Gift of Life, about the uplifting impact of the Water Project in empowering rural communities in Timor-Leste.
The webinar welcomed special guests and project partners of Jesuit Mission, Fr Júlio Sousa SJ, Director of Jesuit Social Service (JSS) Timor-Leste and Jose Da Costa Pereira Soares, the Program Manager Assistant of the Water Project, who both spoke about the importance of handing over the project to local leaders.
“We encourage rural communities to be the main authors in constructing and implementing their water facilities. We want them to become the owner of the project and therefore the facility belongs to them and not to us,” said Fr Júlio.
Thanks to the collaboration of many village leaders and your generous support, over the last four years this partnership with JSS has brought clean water to more than 15 rural villages, transforming the lives of over 5,000 people.
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“The communities are very collaborative right from the beginning of the project until we hand it over to them. They actively participate in meetings, share their opinions and concerns and contribute as much as they can by working voluntarily,” said Jose.
With clean and safe water now nearby, communities have become empowered with more agricultural opportunities, have experienced an improved standard of hygiene and children no longer have to walk great distances to collect water before and after school.
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“Before (in the village Tocoluli) each student was required to bring five litres of water to school everyday, so that the school can prepare meals and clean the toilets… Just imagine five litres of water for a child to carry to school each day, it is a very heavy burden for them,” said Fr Júlio.
Thanks to your support, the Water Project will continue to provide 18 life-changing new water systems to rural communities over the next three years, which is vital in Timor-Leste where one-third of people in rural areas do not have access to clean water.
“The gift of water is too often overlooked here in Australia, while many of these vulnerable communities in Timor-Leste have never had the luxury of clean water nearby. This project is so critical in bringing this basic necessity to the lives of these Timorese people,” said Helen Forde, CEO of Jesuit Mission.
In some places where JSS has not yet constructed a water tank, villagers still have to buy water, which adds great financial stress to rural families.
“It is sad because even though we are already in the 21st century, people are still struggling with the basic need to access water,” said Jose.
This Christmas, instead of a traditional gift, why not give a gift that can change someone’s life? For $50 you can buy a bicycle for a rural student in Cambodia and help them receive a quality education.
You can choose from an e-card or postal card to share with your loved one this Christmas.
Jesuits escalate support for Myanmar hidden emergency
There’s a hidden emergency in Myanmar, where a military dictatorship has violently re-assumed power through a coup in early 2021.
Hear an update from our Jesuit Partner on the ground in the video below.
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Since February last year to September this year, the United Nations documented over 260 attacks by the military on schools in Myanmar.
Teachers and students, especially from ethnic minorities, have become the targets.
“We recently received footage showing young boys and girls in a make-shift refugee camp classroom, have become subjects for aerial attacks. The video shows the children’s faces are filled with fear, and many are crying and clinging to each other as they then run from the classroom into the jungle to hide,” said Helen Forde, CEO of Jesuit Mission.
Despite the risks, the Jesuits are standing right beside the Burmese people, feeding the hungry, providing shelter and medicine, teaching people new skills to earn an income and of course, offering children education.
“Since war was unleashed on the population, the people have known no relief. In the townships and communities where we work, hunger is only too evident,” said a Jesuit on the ground.
The need is significant, with over 1.3 million people now displaced and foreign investors having fled the country, Myanmar is experiencing massive economic collapse. Today, more than half the population is living below the poverty line, with no end to the violence and deprivation in sight.
This Christmas your support of our Emergency Action Fund can enable our Jesuit partners to provide emergency support to communities in Myanmar that need it most. If you’d like to contribute to the Emergency Action Fund please click here.
Your compassionate generosity is helping bring light to our sisters and brothers living in darkness around the world.
This Christmas, instead of a traditional gift, why not give a gift that can change someone’s life? For $50 you can buy a bicycle for a rural student in Cambodia and help them receive a quality education.
You can choose from an e-card or postal card to share with your loved one this Christmas.
The Lord fashioned human beings from the earth, to cosign them back to it. He clothed them in strength, like himself, and made them in his own image. He made them a tongue, eyes and ears, and gave them a heart to think with.
He filled them with knowledge and intelligence, and showed them what was good and what was evil. He put his own light in their hearts to show them the magnificenceof his works. He set knowledge before them, he endowed them with the law of life. He said to them, 'Beware of all wrong-doing'; he gave each a commandment concerning his neighbour.
Sir 17:1,3,6-8,11,14.
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1. Desire...I ask the Spirit for Greater Humanity.
I place my index and middle finger on the inside of my wrist, below my thumb, to feel
my heartbeat, a living symbol of my humanity. God gave humans a heart to love with,
to discern between good and evil, to understand and grow in our humanity.
As I feel my pulse, I consider my blood, how every human shares the same blood,
irrespective of colour, race, status, wealth or religion. In this, we are one.
I ask the Spirit for Greater Humanity.
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2. Relish...I live in the Trinity of the Incarnation.
I imagine I am surrounded in a circle by the Trinity of the Incarnation, in which Jesus to
sent become fully human, to reveal the loving way of common humanity. Father,
Jesus and Spirit, address me by name, saying, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself'.
So I sit with this invitation, awhile, in the mystery of the Trinity of Incarnate Love.
I relish destroying the caricatures of those seeking refuge.
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3. Human... I breathe the Spirit of Humanity.
I imagine the Spirit of Humanity breathing God’s own light into me to re-humanize
and break the stereotypes of those who seek refuge and flee persecution. I breathe it
in deep, wait, then breathe it out into institutions, policies, and conversations with the
marginalized. I repeat as desired – breathing, enlightened, humanizing.
I conclude giving thanks, moving forward in solidarity with every human.
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PRAYER TIME: 10 minutes.
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Click here to download the Prayer of Threatened Humanity.
A Gift for Change can help rebuild lives in Ukraine
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For almost eight months, the Jesuits in Europe, with the support of Jesuit Mission through Xavier Network, have been providing emergency assistance, shelter and opportunity to refugees fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.
At times like these, we are called upon as a community of faith to stand in solidarity with those whose lives have been turned upside down by war.
By supporting Jesuit Mission’s Gifts for Change Program, vulnerable women, men and children fleeing Ukraine can be given a second chance, including finding pathways out of poverty and injustice.
Instead of a traditional gift this Christmas, you could give a gift that helps restore dignity to Ukrainian refugees by supplying essential hygiene kits, or help provide a family with a temporary home for one month.
When you purchase a Gift for Change you can choose to send your loved one an instant e-card, or select a printed postal card.
Our full range of Gifts for Change can be viewed online here.
"The Jesuits in Europe are not only providing emergency food, shelter and support for refugees, they are providing platforms for refugees to rebuild their lives. Remarkably, some refugees have since become hired teachers, therapists, or volunteers willing to serve their fellow Ukrainian sisters and brothers,” said Helen Forde, CEO of Jesuit Mission.
Thanks to a partnership between Jesuit Mission, the Xavier Network and Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Europe, 42,000 refugees from Ukraine have received support, including emergency shelter, food and essential items, psychosocial support, medical escorts, translation and accompaniment.
JRS Europe is coordinating the emergency response by mobilising support from offices across Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Macedonia, south east Europe as well as within Ukraine.
The project supporting Ukrainian refugees is called the One Proposal, a coordinated unified response from the Society of Jesus to the Ukraine Crisis.
The One Proposal is a three-year project that focuses on five main pillars to assist Ukrainian refugees – welcoming, protecting, promoting, integrating, capacity building and institutional strengthening.
As the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine deepens, Jesuit Mission and its partners overseas continue to collaborate, providing vital accompaniment to those in need.
"We will remain committed to this mission, especially for the reconstruction of the country (Ukraine), we have a long journey ahead of us," Fr Alberto Ares SJ, Director of Jesuit Refugee Service Europe.
A donation to our Gifts for Change Program this Christmas can provide emergency food, shelter and accompaniment to those in Ukraine and around the world.
Click here to purchase Gifts for Change online or call 02 8918 4109.
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For the Jesuits in Hazaribag, India, educating tribal girls is a priority.
The successful construction of the new Girls Hostel in Chiropath provides hope for students like Aditi from the Jesuit-run St Mary’s school, who now have beds, desks, space to study and appropriate bathroom facilities.
"A new bed was provided. I am overjoyed with happiness. I felt so good that each one of us got a bed. I am safe from the bitter cold at night and no longer sleep on the floor," said Aditi.
By improving the standard of living at the hostel, students like Aditi are less exposed to hygienic risks and are now able to focus much better on their studies.
The Jesuits in Hazaribag hope to uplift the self-esteem of indigenous groups, and to build careers that will allow for them and their families to live with dignity - ultimately contributing to the alleviation of poverty in their communities.
Chiropath community is situated over one kilometre high on the hills overlooking the Chechari valley. The hills are occupied by a very small tribe, the Nagesias, who are one of the most marginalised tribes in Jharkhand state. They depend solely on farming and with uncertain rain, their income is unreliable.
Run by a congregation of sisters, the new girls hostel supports children from vulnerable families, bringing them opportunity and hope for a brighter future.
"Before we used to study on the ground, but now we have everything we need, the hostel is so clean and cosy. Our lives have transformed" said Aditi.
"I feel so happy and grateful that all this was made possible by our benefactors. May God bless them abundantly," said Aditi.
It was great to see so many of our friends attend our Water the Gift of Life Webinar! For those who missed out we are very pleased to be able to share it here with you all.
We are very grateful to have had the opportunity to hear from our Jesuit partner Fr Júlio Sousa SJ, Director of Jesuit Social Service (JSS) Timor-Leste and his colleague Jose da Costa Pereira, Program Manager Assistant of the Water Project.
Over the last four years, clean, safe drinking water has been piped to many remote and mountainous communities which has provided direct and daily benefits to over 5,000 people.
Communities learn to take ownership of the management of water in their villages and they learn how to protect and conserve an ecosystem that supports the sustainability of water.
The burden of collecting water often falls to children, who have to walk up to five hours each day, carrying heavy containers of water. For many children, this means they miss out on receiving an education.
Thanks to your generosity, Jesuit Mission’s partnership with JSS has brought clean water to more than 15 rural villages, transforming the lives of thousands of people.
“I’ve witnessed first-hand the transformative impact that can be achieved for vulnerable communities. Including a gift in our Will to Jesuit Mission felt like the natural extension of our support.” Debbie
A life of compassion
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Debbie and David were both raised in India with strong connections to the Jesuits and Ignatian spirituality. From the beginning the couple shared a commitment to service.
When they had their son, Keith, they brought him up with the same Jesuit values and spirit of service. And, like David, Keith attended a Jesuit school.
The couple’s early life took them on many adventures, and at every turn they strived to put their faith into action.
Their connection to Jesuit Mission began in 1999 when the couple moved to Melbourne and Debbie began volunteering at the Maytime Fair, our biggest fundraising event in Victoria. She loved the role and became an active member of the team, serving on the Maytime Fair Committee for many years.
The couple also put their faith into action through ongoing gifts and have recently taken the next step, including a gift in their Will to Jesuit Mission. This has given both Debbie and David real comfort, knowing that as well as taking care of the future needs of their son, they’ll be continuing to use their faith to transform the lives of vulnerable people for generations to come.
A Jesuit education
“My first introduction to a Jesuit involvement was when I attended my first Jesuit school in India called St Stanislaus, in Bombay – now known as Mumbai. At that time of course, I didn’t realise it, but it moulded me into the person that I am today. What they taught me and the things they equipped me with became important tools that I used later on in life.
Our school motto was: “Born for greater things.” The important thing we learned was not to confuse greater with richer – so no matter who you were or how much you earned or what you did, you’re always meant to strive to improve yourself. The Jesuits in my school challenged us to do better, extend ourselves every day.
So once we had a son, Keith, the only thing I could think of was that he was meant to go to the same place that I have come from. And therein lies my debt. So, the way I have repaid that debt that I felt I owed the Jesuits, was by sending my son to a Jesuit school in Melbourne and bringing him up in those Jesuit traditions.” – David
Early days
“I grew up and lived in India until I was 25, when I came to Australia with David. David and I met in our first year of university in Bombay, so we’ve been together since we were 16 and we’ll both be 65 this year. We went out for nearly nine years before we got married, and then came out here to Australia. We started off in Perth and then I got involved with the Jesuits when we moved to Melbourne in ‘99. That’s when I started helping with the Maytime Fair.” – Debbie
Creating Change
Debbie and Jo at the MTF in 2013.
Debbie and Jo in Hazaribag.
“When I was working on the Maytime Fair Committee in 2013 I had the opportunity to go to Hazaribag with a friend, and we spent a week there. Then in 2016, our son Keith asked if I could accompany him and go. So I’ve made two trips to Hazaribag which was so special. It was just wonderful to see all the fundraising we do here being put into fantastic use over there.
It’s just unbelievable the work they do in the missions over there. I think you need to see it to believe it.” – Debbie
“For Keith, like us, social service is important. He’s grown up with that culture in the house.” – David
The next step
“When it comes to Jesuit Mission, we do what we can but always wish we could do more. So when we were thinking about our Wills, it [leaving a gift to Jesuit Mission] was the natural thing to do.
We are fortunate, like many others, to be able to share our resources with those who have a greater need.” – David
We sincerely thank Debbie and David for their generous support which will help poor and vulnerable communities for generations to come.
Their son Keith visited the Jesuits in Hazaribag.
If you would like to leave a lasting impact just like Debbie and David, we’d love to chat to you and provide more information. A gift in your Will can help us create real, transformational change for our sisters living in the global margins.
The preservation of life on our planet is a human responsibility of immense ethical and spiritual importance.
The first day of this month coincided with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation and the beginning of the Season of Creation.
During this time we were all invited to pray for the protection of creation and the promotion of sustainable, eco-friendly lifestyles.
Thanks to your support, our Ecology program in Cambodia focuses on forest conservation efforts to enhance capacities of local communities, including students in Ecological Restoration, Education, Advocacy and Sustainability.
The Ecology program is carried out by our local partner Jesuit Service Cambodia (JSC), in the rural Kambal District of Phnom Penh and in the rural Prey Thom community of Battambang Province, Cambodia.
“Young people have a new ecological sensitivity and a generous spirit, and some of them are making admirable efforts to protect the environment,” writes Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si’, a book which focuses on care for the natural environment as well as the relationship between God, people and the Earth.
Our partner works closely with school communities as a way to teach and empower children to become caretakers of their surrounding environment. Young students, teachers and families can get involved with activities such as managing plant nurseries and the production of seedlings.
Funding from Jesuit Mission and our generous supporters provides the ongoing supply of seedlings to local schools along with tools and training to support a thriving ecology system.
Many families living in rural villages in Cambodia rely on a healthy, diverse natural world to farm for the food and income they need to survive.
Communities simply cannot afford to lose forests as a critical part of the ecosystem.
Thanks to your generosity, these communities are given the ecological training to ensure that their environment remains protected and cared for.
"There is a nobility in the duty to care for creation through little daily actions, and it is wonderful how education can bring about real changes in lifestyle,” writes Pope Francis (Laudato Si’#211).
