Jesuit Mission – 15/25 – Jesuit Mission

Home > Blog Post > Page 15

Refugees rise above the challenges of COVID-19 in Indonesia

[break height="10"]

Refugees taking part in a cooking class in Bogor.

In Bogor and Jakarta, Indonesia, thousands of asylum seekers and refugees are relying on organisations like Jesuit Mission to survive.

With no social assistance scheme for noncitizens during the pandemic, it is an incredibly challenging situation for many refugee families who lack hope and opportunity in their protracted wait for resettlement.

Our project partner Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Indonesia supports those people who fled the dangers of their home country and helps meet their basic survival needs, including financial support for food, rent, and access to health services.

Thanks to your generosity, last year through JRS’ ‘Befriend towards dignity during refuge in Indonesia’ project, almost 1,500 refugees were supported through psychosocial and financial support, consultation services and livelihood assistance activities.

“For the first time in my life, I received something from someone whom I don’t have to give anything in exchange,” said one of the refugees participating in the program.

Due to COVID-19, JRS adjusted many of its programs to carry out these empowering activities mostly remotely, such as remote learning managed by the JRS Learning Centre.

The cost for mobile data is covered for refugees, giving them access to an internet connection at home, to continue learning and participate in meetings and consultations via Zoom.

The Basic English Class for women is held
weekly at the JRS Learning Centre in Bogor.

[break height=15]

Fortunately some livelihood assistance activities could still go ahead in person whilst following COVID-19 protocols and restrictions.

Many asylum seekers and refugees in Indonesia have professional skills to offer, but they have little hope gaining employment in a community that rejects them.

JRS Indonesia is supporting skilled asylum seekers and refugees to access livelihood and income opportunities by connecting them with companies and organisations willing to accommodate them.

Moreover, the project advocates promoting the protection of refugees’ human rights in Indonesia and raising the awareness of just policy and practice.

“After receiving assistance our life is better than before. Not only for me, but for my children. I can manage our expenses and our food. My husband has also regained his health,” said another refugee.

[break height=20]

[break height=20]

First Spiritual Exercises - Emergency Strength

Let us join together in the Prayer for Emergency Strength written by Fr Michael Hansen SJ, National Director of the First Spiritual Exercises Program.

Thank you for your support of the Maytime Fair and Bazaar Appeals

[break height="10"]

Jesuit Mission is deeply grateful to everyone who supported the Maytime Fair and Bazaar Appeals last year, together over $150,000 was raised!

For the second year both events were sadly cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions, however, once again the Sydney and Melbourne Jesuit communities pulled together to help men, women and children living on the margins raise themselves out of poverty.

Thank you to St Aloysius’ College, St Ignatius’ College Riverview, Xavier College Melbourne, the Maytime Fair and Bazaar Committees and all those who volunteered or purchased jams and wine from our online stores.

Whilst it would have been the 70th anniversaries for the Jesuit Mission Bazaar and the Maytime Fair, we hope to celebrate these wonderful days of fun, friendship and solidarity in person with you all this year.

[break height=20]

[break height=20]

First Spiritual Exercises - Emergency Strength

Let us join together in the Prayer for Emergency Strength written by Fr Michael Hansen SJ, National Director of the First Spiritual Exercises Program.

Caring for her community

[break height="10"]

Georgina (right) providing medical assistance
at the parish clinic.

Georgina, a 26 year-old nurse, is dedicated to supporting her community in Railaco, Timor-Leste and has been working for the mobile medical clinic there for almost two years.

As a scholarship graduate of the Jesuit-run secondary school NOSSEF (Escola Secundaria Católica Nossa Senhora de Fátima), Georgina’s education inspired her to take on a career in nursing and help the most vulnerable.

[quotes]“Our teachers (at NOSSEF) were very dedicated and they wanted us to be someone who could really contribute to society.”[/quotes][quotes_author color="#000"]Georgina [/quotes_author] [break height=30]

[break height=20]

After graduating in 2012, Georgina eagerly studied nursing for seven years at the National University of Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL).

Today she works alongside Fr Martin Antonio “Bong” Abad Santos SJ, a Filipino doctor who has been running the mobile medical clinic with the Jesuits in Timor-Leste since it began in 2004.

Thanks to your generosity, the support of St Canice’s Parish Kings Cross and last year South Australian group Pilgrims 100, the mobile medical clinic goes to 12 stations in remote villages in Railaco, providing medicine and medical assistance.

[quotes]“Normally we go to 2 to 3 different locations per day. In one location, sometimes we treat up to 100 patients per day.” [break height=20] [quotes]“Even the people that live far away from Railaco also come to seek our medical treatment because they heard that our clinic offers good medical assistance.”[/quotes] [break height=20]

The mobile medical clinic has been running since Georgina was very young and she is thrilled to work with Fr Bong to help her friends and fellow residents in Railaco.

[quotes]“If there is an opportunity to study more, I am open to it. But now I just want to work here and help as many people as I can,” she said.[quotes_author color="#000"]Georgina [/quotes_author] [break height=20]

[break height=20]

First Spiritual Exercises - Emergency Strength

Let us join together in the Prayer for Emergency Strength written by Fr Michael Hansen SJ, National Director of the First Spiritual Exercises Program.

One Foot Raised

Myanmar people running — Myanmar community members doing a fun run.

This year we invite you to follow in the footsteps of St Ignatius the Pilgrim, to walk on St Ignatius Day, 31 July 2024, with One Foot Raised.

One Foot Raised is Jesuit Mission's new supporter event, where participants partake in a challenge walk in solidarity with the people of Myanmar and raise funds for Jesuit Mission's Emergency Response work.

[break height=20]

You can take part as a school, a parish, a group of friends or you can take on the challenge personally and set your own pace as an individual.

This is an opportunity to draw further inspiration from St Ignatius the Pilgrim.

St Ignatius himself described the ideal leader as living with "one foot raised," moving always into new lands and new cultures, ready to step forward and respond to human need and suffering in the world.

We walk because Ignatius walked, we walk because Jesuit Missionaries walk alongside the marginalised and we walk because many children in Jesuit Mission supported schools walk long distances each day to gain a quality education.

Merry Christmas 2021

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 10 January, we leave you with a video Christmas message from our CEO Helen Forde.

[break height=7]

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

[break height="20"] More

From little things big things grow

[break height="10"]

Fr Santosh Minj SJ (left) and Fr Bob Slattery SJ.

As a boy growing up in the heart of Hazaribag India, Fr Santosh Minj SJ had an inkling he might one day be a priest. He couldn’t have imagined he would not only achieve that dream, but would in fact become the Provincial Superior of the Province initiated as Hazaribag mission by six Australian Jesuits in 1951.

“I grew up in a small village called Karamtoli-Bardauni with my parents and four siblings. My hamlet is 15 kilometres away from Mahuadanr parish – the oldest mission station in Hazaribag Province in Latehar district of Jharkhand state,” he says.

The late Australian Jesuit Fr Barry O'Loughlin SJ was the Parish Priest at Fr Santosh's parish when he was a child.

"Fr Barry used to be very close to the people, and I think probably this led me to the Jesuits and to Hazaribag."

Fr Santosh says his desire to join the priesthood was further nurtured and nourished while attending St Joseph’s School in Mahuadanr, where he met Australian Fr Thomas Keogh SJ. Later, as a candidate residing at St Xavier’s School in Hazaribag, he met Fr John Moore SJ and Fr Lou Lachal SJ, two of the first Australian missionaries to arrive in Hazaribag in 1951.

The die was thus cast: Fr Santosh joined the Jesuits in June 1991, was ordained a priest in 2005 and was appointed Provincial in December 2016.

His trajectory personifies the vocational legacy left by those early Australian Jesuits, whose religious order was every bit as successful as their mission. The first Indian Jesuit joined the order in 1954, and today Indian Jesuits outnumber their counterparts in Australia.

These men and their co-missionaries have shepherded the early Jesuits’ legacy admirably, building on the early foundations by maintaining the mission’s strong educational focus.

Consequently, says Fr Santosh, “There has been a huge change in the lifestyle of the people in and around Hazaribag. People used to walk miles and miles, now they have motorcycles and some of them own four wheelers.

People are educated and are in good government as well as private jobs. People have very much woken up for the need of good education, health and saving money. People are moving from the mud house to the cement house.”

And though Indian Jesuits now oversee the mission, their connection with Australia remains as strong as ever. Jesuit Mission currently supports the construction of the auditorium of St Xavier’s College, Mahuadanr and St Mary’s Girls’ Hostel at Chiropath; it also assists with a training program for Dalit leaders in Chatra and Hazaribag districts.

“Hazaribag Province is very grateful to Jesuit Mission and all the benefactors who keep Hazaribag Province in their hearts and think about its progress,” Fr Santosh says.

And as Hazaribag heads into its 71^st year, Fr Santosh perceives a future every bit as inspired as its past.

“I see a bright future for [the] Hazaribag Province as there are committed, creative, promising and talented young priests who will assume roles as superiors and directors of work in the future. They will make vibrant communities hopefully.”

As Jesuit Mission’s 70^th Anniversary comes to a close, we would like to extend a sincere thank you to all of our dedicated supporters. We hope you have enjoyed the insight provided by our partners on the many projects you have supported over seven decades.

Today, your generosity enables our partners to provide life-giving support to vulnerable communities across 12 countries in South East Asia and Africa.

With your support, we will continue to empower women, men and children on the margins to live full and free lives, to enable them to inspire opportunity and hope for future generations.

[break height=10]

First Spiritual Exercises - Good Dreams

Let us join together in the Prayer for Good Dreams written by Fr Michael Hansen SJ, National Director of the First Spiritual Exercises Program.

Hope-filled futures for ethnic minorities in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

[break height="10"] [break height="20"]

It was great to see so many of you attend our Xavier Learning Community Webinar!

For those who missed out, we are very pleased to be able to share the webinar here with you all.

The webinar welcomed special guests Fr Augustinus Pitoyo SJ, Vice Director for Institutional Development at Xavier Learning Community (XLC) and Chalermsri Tahong, one of the first graduates from the 2016 cohort.

“I was given the special task to open a new education apostolic for ethnic minorities, the vulnerable people in the Northern part of Thailand. I felt that this great plan to help the young people is the mission of God,” said Fr Pitoyo.

Run by the Jesuit Education Foundation in Thailand, XLC offers a bachelor’s degree in English with profession-based training, including eco-tourism and hospitality for students from vulnerable ‘Hill Tribes’ that often face stigma, discrimination and above all, a lack of opportunity.

“I am currently the only person in my family to have obtained a bachelor’s degree, not only just in my family, but (I’m) also the only person from my village,” said Chalermsri.

“Recently I got an opportunity to work for an NGO in Chiang Mai and this enables me to support my family, especially my parents who are now at home together. Before they had to work in different places to support me while I was still studying,” she said.

Now with over 100 students from ethnic minorities e.g. Akha, Karen, Hmong, Lanna and more, XLC is packed full of inspiring stories like Chalermsri.

“These graduates completed their studies in only three and a half years from a four-year program. Now some of them are English teachers, or are working in hotels. Many have started their own businesses in eco-tourism in their villages and some are providing English tutorials in their houses,” said Fr Pitoyo.

[break height=10]

First Spiritual Exercises - Good Dreams

Let us join together in the Prayer for Good Dreams written by Fr Michael Hansen SJ, National Director of the First Spiritual Exercises Program.

Nutritious meals for children in Railaco, Timor-Leste

[break height="10"]

Thanks to your generosity and the support of St Canice’s Parish Kings Cross and last year South Australian group, Pilgrims 100, the Railaco Feeding Program in Timor-Leste provides weekly meals to almost 300 children.

As Railaco has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the country, the program provides nutritious meals for children and educates parents on the importance of diet to ensure the healthy development of their children.

[break height=30]

Many vulnerable families in Railaco come from remote villages and simply cannot afford to provide nutritious meals for their families.

Miralda a 27 year old mother with two daughters from Caitarehei village, is grateful that her children are beneficiaries of the Feeding Program.

“This program started when I was still a teenager. I am really glad that this program has been ongoing and that my children are now a part of it,” she said.

Run by our partner the Jesuit Region of Timor-Leste, the Railaco Feeding Program has been ensuring the healthy nutritional development of remote communities since 2004.

The program provides weekly meals of chicken, eggs, tofu, tempeh, vegetables and rice to children who would otherwise go without.

“Our usual diet for the family was cassava leaves, corns, and sweet potatoes. We rarely had meat in our diet. Now through the Feeding Program, my children eat chicken, tofu and tempeh, which is hard to obtain in my village. My daughters are growing and look healthier than before,” she said.

[break height=30]

The program’s food is prepared in the Railaco parish kitchen and the children bring their own plates to be filled with food they would not usually get at home.

In addition, when the children are gathered together, the team seizes the opportunity to impart learning through the sharing of children’s stories and dance performances. This helps develop the cognitive, emotional and physical skills of the children.

Thanks to your support, Miralda’s children can now enjoy a variety of food and get the nutritional and educational development they need. The family’s diet is no longer limited by their financial situation or their remote location.

“I hope it can continue and I hope those who support this program are in good health so that they can continue to help our children grow,” said Miralda.

[break height=10]

First Spiritual Exercises - Good Dreams

Let us join together in the Prayer for Good Dreams written by Fr Michael Hansen SJ, National Director of the First Spiritual Exercises Program.

Xavier Learning Community Webinar

[break height="20"]

It was great to see so many of our friends attend our Xavier Learning Community Webinar! For those who missed out we are very pleased to be able to share it here with you all and hope you enjoy it.

We are very grateful to have had Fr Augustinus Pitoyo SJ, Vice Director for Institutional Development at Xavier Learning Community, share his insights on the power of education to uplift marginalised communities in Chiang Rai.

It was great to also speak with recent graduate of Xavier Learning Community, Chalermsri Tahong who shared the life-changing impact of the program on her own life.

Once again, we'd like to thank you for your ongoing support. Your generosity allows people like Chalermsri to receive an education and have a brighter future.

[break height= 10]

A Gift for Change can save a child’s life in Vietnam

[break height="10"]

Malnourished children in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam need your support and through our Gifts for Change Program, you can save a child’s life.

For three months, Ho Chi Minh City was in complete lockdown, where residents were forbidden from leaving their homes – even to shop for food, or exercise. Soldiers enforced stay at home orders and helped with limited food deliveries.

These restrictions to control the spread of COVID 19, since lifted, have forced millions of migrant workers out of employment and into emergency levels of poverty and hunger. Mothers are struggling to feed their babies because of poor diet, leaving thousands of children malnourished.

[break height=15]

By supporting our Gifts for Change Program - no matter how big or small your contribution is – you can bring hope to these families and their young children.

A Gift for Change allows you to replace a traditional present with the gift of nourishment, independence, education and empowerment.

Your donation can support projects like the Emergency appeal in Vietnam, and other projects that best support the needs of the communities we serve. And, you can choose from an instant e-card or a postal card to share with your loved ones this Christmas.

Give a gift with the power to transform lives.

$60 can provide enough formula to feed 3 under-nourished babies in Vietnam for 3 months.

Click below to browse our Gifts for Change shop.

Browse Gifts for Change [break height=10]

Gratitude Webinar - Xavier Learning Community

We invite you to join our Webinar about Xavier Learning Community on 3 November at 6:00pm AEDT.

Click here to register.