Helping foreign migrants navigate Japanese law
16 Jan 2012

Helping foreign migrants navigate Japanese law

by | posted in: Migration, Social Justice | 0

The free legal services offered by the Jesuit Social Center in Tokyo in the last year has proven to be a boon to foreign migrants.  The centre already has 35 legal cases solved or awaiting resolution in its files.

“More than half of all the Catholics in Japan are of other nationalities. Anyone in contact with foreigners in Japan realises the complexity of the situations they face, their need to learn the Japanese language, and the legal barriers they encounter,” said Fr Ando Isamu SJ, who is on the centre’s staff.

Reflections on Christmas Island
15 Dec 2011

Reflections on Christmas Island

by | posted in: Migration, Social Justice | 0

At the age of 70, when most people are retired or taking it easy, Australian Jesuit Celso Romanin SJ responded to an urgent call from Jesuit Refugee Service Australia for a priest to provide pastoral care to the detainees on Christmas Island.  He had eight years of experience with refugees in Australia, Asia and Africa, yet the prospect of going to Christmas Island at his age was daunting.  But he put his reservations before the Lord and ended up spending October with the detainees on Christmas Island. 

Flood misery continues across Southeast Asia
22 Nov 2011

Flood misery continues across Southeast Asia

by | posted in: Migration, Reconciliation with Creation, Social Justice | 0

An estimated 20 million people across Southeast Asia have been affected by flooding since June. Most are in Thailand, but typhoons struck the Philippines in October, and Laos was hit by cyclones in July and August.  About 1.8 million people in Cambodia and Vietnam are also suffering from the worst flooding in a decade.  Myanmar also is experiencing flooding, though the extent is unclear because little information has been released from the country. Local media there reported some 30,000 people were hit by flash floods last month that killed more than 160.

New JRS Asia Pacific director
22 Nov 2011

New JRS Asia Pacific director

by | posted in: JCAP News, Migration, Social Justice | 0

Fr Bambang Sipayung SJ has been appointed Regional Director of Jesuit Refugee Service-Asia Pacific.  His three-year term begins on June 1, 2012.

Fr Sipayung replaces Fr Bernard Arputhasamy SJ who has served the region with dedication and competence for nearly seven years.

In his letter of appointment, Father General Adolfo Nicolás said that Fr Sipayung’s rich field experience will be “a great asset to JRS”. 

JRS Asia Pacific kicks off tertiary education project for refugees
22 Nov 2011

JRS Asia Pacific kicks off tertiary education project for refugees

by | posted in: Education, Migration, Social Justice | 0

Refugees and asylum seekers now have the opportunity to get a degree in European universities in 2012 with the launch of applications to the AREAS scholarship on November 1.

The Academic Relations between Asia and Europe (AREAS) is a mobility and scholarship project financed by the European Commission through the Erasmus Mundus Action 2 – Strand 1 programme.

“AREAS want to ensure that vulnerable populations under Target 3 category are well-served,” said Project Coordinator Bianca Buttiglione.

Praying with Refugees from Somalia
17 Oct 2011

Praying with Refugees from Somalia

by | posted in: Migration, Social Justice | 0

On October 5, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI launched an appeal to the international community to help people suffering famine in the Horn of Africa. 

During his general audience that morning, the Holy Father said, “I renew my heartfelt appeal to the international community to continue its commitment to these people. At the same time I invite everyone to offer prayers and concrete support to so many sorely tried brothers and sisters, particularly to the children of the region who are dying every day because of the lack of water and food”.

As Ignatius Would
22 Aug 2011

As Ignatius Would

by | posted in: Education, Migration, Spirituality | 0

Ignatius Loyola’s gift to the Church was about choice: how to make the best decision in our lives. In the celebrations for Ignatius Loyola the readings speak of choice and of the mission that follows the choice.  Ignatius invites us to say ‘no’ to the self that is focused on itself: the surface self, the small, fearful, insecure self.  By contrast the Gospel reveals the sacred, unique, individual self, the person created and sustained in life by God, loved as a son and daughter, whom Jesus wants to be saved. 

Discovering Filipino migrants in Algeria
26 Jul 2011

Discovering Filipino migrants in Algeria

by | posted in: Migration | 0

Fr Roland Doriol SJ spent 15 years in Cebu, Philippines as a Chaplain in a maritime school and at the port, ministering to seafarers and their families.  He sent us this report after three weeks in Algeria in May, during which he met Filipino migrant workers at their work sites and in their camps.