Jesuit Refugee Service

Fr. Peter Balleis, S.J., the International Director of Jesuit Refugee Service notes that JRS has a triple mission to serve, accompany and defend the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people.

Inspired by the plight of Vietnamese and Cambodian boat people in 1979 and 1980, Fr. Pedro Arrupe, S.J. founded JRS to help those who have been forgotten.

While discussing the three aspects of the JRS mission, Fr. Balleis notes that accompaniment is the unique aspect of JRS, the "hinge" that binds our mission.

The mission of Jesuit Refugee Service/USA is to accompany, serve and defend the rights of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons, witnessing to Gods presence in vulnerable and often forgotten people driven from their homes by conflict, natural disaster, economic injustice, or violation of their human rights. As one of the ten geographic regions of the Jesuit Refugee Service, JRS/USA serves as the major refugee outreach arm of U.S. Jesuits and their institutional ministries, mobilizing their response to refugee situations in the U.S. and abroad. Through our advocacy and fund raising efforts, JRS/USA also provides support for the work of JRS throughout the world.

JRS/USA gives help, hope, ear and voice to vulnerable people on the move by being present to and bearing witness to their plight; by relieving their human suffering and restoring hope; by addressing the root causes of their displacement and improving international responses to refugee situations. In addition, JRS/USA inspires the Ignatian family and others to respond together to the needs of refugees and displaced persons worldwide and forges strong partnerships with like-minded institutions and agencies devoted to the cause of refugees and displaced persons.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• refugee
• internally displaced
• migrant
• migration
• immigration
• Catholic
• Arrupe
• jesuit