For, as we are increasingly aware,
structures of human life in common are of different kinds, not only economic and political, but also cultural and religious; all of them condition human life, all of them can weaken or destroy it, and all of them are capable of being impregnated by Gospel and of embodying a greater justice and charity. So it is worth paying unflagging attention to different aspects of contexts in which we find ourselves, lest we end up oblivious of changes developing or out of touch with them. 7. These are some reasons why, after GC34, social apostolate began a world-wide examen. It was deemed necessary to organise 1997 Naples Congress in an effort to give new impetus within Society to social apostolate as a sign of our full commitment to social dimension of our mission. Among some promising results of process, programmed for 1995-2005, following seem especially significant.
One is importance of elaborating characteristics of social apostolate at level of universal Society and of adapting them at local level. Such characteristics provide framework for continually discerning, in creative fidelity to social dimension of our charism, what Spirit calls us to in ever different poverties and injustices of world. Some of many insights and questions needed in this sense find expression in working draft Characteristics of Social Apostolate. Since current draft is taking much longer to revise than foreseen, everyone is encouraged to send in comments and suggestions towards a definitive edition of these Characteristics, after study and discussion in communities and groups.
While each commitment can and must be very specific, we need to keep in mind various levels of action and reflection which are involved, as well-known expression "local/global" suggests. These levels go from apparently simplest contact with and service to poor at grass-roots, through every sort of human development and promotion, to working for far-reaching change in structures nationally and internationally.
As we keep working at different levels, we also want to become aware of and remain up-to-date on how complex and changing are injustices and socio-cultural structures in today's world. This requires bringing a plurality of viewpoints to bear on problems and employing multiple ways of reading society and doing things there.
Finally, experience has taught us to ground our social commitment squarely upon foundation of our Ignatian spirituality and our Jesuit tradition, both of which ‘place us joyfully with Son and with those among whom Son wants to be, poor and neglected of earth.’ We recognise that it is not possible to call oneself a companion of Jesus if one does not share His love for those who suffer.
8. These same elements suggest direction in which to continue going and indicate some concrete measures to support process currently underway. An endless pluralism of approaches and variety of methods and organisational models constitute, without a doubt, an enormous richness of social apostolate; but, in order to fulfil this potential and grow as an apostolic body, it very much needs adequate co-ordination. Accordingly, we need to make good use of forms and structures of co-ordination already available and indeed strengthen them. I would like every Province, Region and inter-provincial body like Conferences of Major Superiors to have a co-ordinator of social apostolate, supported by an appropriate commission, and with sufficient capacity, resources and time to play their role.
At same time, a greater flow of useful and up-to-date information is needed in social apostolate within Provinces and beyond them. Such exchange of information should encourage those involved, propose questions or instruments of reflection, and help networks to grow and function effectively. Much greater benefit can be drawn from Church's social teaching and social apostolate's experience accumulated since Instruction of Father Janssens. I count on Social Justice Secretariat at Curia to continue its work of co-ordination and to strengthen communications throughout social apostolate.
Compared with work of other groups and organisations active in social field, social apostolate of Society is notable for its presence at all various levels from grassroots to international bodies, and in all various approaches from direct forms of service, through working with groups and movements, to research, reflection and publication. In this typically multiple presence, a great but little realised potential of universal Society lies hidden, which we owe it to poor and to Church to make better use of. Let us actively look for ways of combining competencies in social analysis and theological reflection, with experience of closeness to poor and work with those who suffer injustices of every sort, and of better exploiting all possibilities that are given us as a universal and international apostolic body.
