Jesuits and justice

A Georgetown education is distinguished from those at other prestigious institutions through the emphasis on globalization and, consequently, its tremendous international presence within the faculty, student body, course offerings, and all other aspects within and outside of the classroom. Furthermore, the Georgetown experience is enhanced by the school's Jesuit heritage-not necessarily by bringing God into the classroom-but by placing the mission of cura personalis, or the "care of the whole person" at the university's foundation.

This past Saturday, September 5th, Georgetown was able to celebrate both of these important pieces of its campus makeup. Approximately fifty undergraduates, a handful of faculty, and about thirty Jesuits from around the world met for a "Jesuits and Justice Roundtable." Over a formal dinner in Riggs Library, students were able to inquire about world issues with those who are actively improving the situations onsite. The Jesuits' backgrounds spanned "twenty countries on five continents," giving students the opportunity to gain new insight on a widespread range of world issues.

The Jesuits are at Georgetown to attend a five day conference for Woodstock Theological Center's Global Economy and Cultures project coordinated by Gasper F. Lo Biondo, S.J. The project's focus is on globalization and more specifically on its impact on ways of life, with special focus on the poor, while finding the specific reasons why globalization causes these effects, subsequently evaluating the pros and cons, and finally recommending how to make globalization most beneficial.

Dialogue was completely open; the Jesuits did not come prepared with anything more than their experiences. Each table, therefore, covered different topics depending on the particular Jesuits' work and the students' interests. The actual work of the Jesuits varied greatly ranging from providing healthcare to supporting human rights. At a table with Guatemalan and Filipino Jesuits, the focus remained on globalization and how the "face of the new family" is being impacted. With a student body with as varied backgrounds as the Jesuits, there was great opportunity for dialogue. For example, there was a French-speaking table with Jesuits from the Congo and France that discussed the need for American ignorance to be addressed through students. Dialogue went beyond social welfare and into how faith led to leading a life of service and offered background into the extensive training and discipline that goes into becoming a Jesuit.

The perfect embodiment of what a Georgetown student's background ideally would contain, Ryan Coyle (College, 2007) was able to bring to his table of two Indian Jesuits his interest in Hindu nationalism, along with experiences of working with both the poor near his hometown and with poverty in Chile over six weeks this past summer. "We can gain insight by talking about it in an academic setting," Coyle remarks, "but to engage in direct dialogue with those who experience the crises in a "hands-on" manner is a remarkable opportunity."

Kroop is the business manager and a theology junior.