Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States

Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States is the collaborating body of the five provincial superiors of the Society of Jesus in Canada, the United States,[1][2] Belize,[3] and Haiti.[4] The conference includes the Canada Province (which includes Haiti) and the four provinces of the United States: USA East,[5] USA Central and Southern (which includes Belize),[6] USA Midwest,[7] and USA West.[8]

Jesuit Conference of
Canada and the United States
AbbreviationJCCU
Established2014; 10 years ago (2014)
PurposeJesuit collaboration
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
Region served
North America
Membership
Jesuit Provinces
  • Canada
  • USA East
  • USA Central & Southern
  • USA Midwest
  • USA West
Association
Canada & U.S. Jesuit Provinces
President
Brian G. Paulson, S.J.
Parent organization
Society of Jesus
StaffEight
Websitewww.jesuits.org

The conference is led by a president, who also serves as chair of the Conference board. The administrative offices are in Washington, D.C., with eight on the full-time staff.[8] The conference hosts the provincial websites.

History

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From 2014 to 2017, the Jesuit provinces in the United States were consolidated.[9][10] Some had divided in the 1950s when they reached maximum size, to become California, Chicago-Detroit, Maryland, Missouri, New England, New Orleans, New York, Oregon, and Wisconsin, known collectively as the US Assistancy. In the new grouping, New England and New York have formed USA Northeast Province, which was renamed USA East Province when Maryland later joined the grouping; Missouri and New Orleans became USA Central and Southern Province; Chicago-Detroit and Wisconsin have joined to become Midwest Province; and Oregon and California became USA West Province. There was some adjustment of boundary lines. The Jesuits have more ministries in the United States than they did at the peak of their membership, largely because of lay partnerships and diversification of ministries.[11]

Services

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The Conference website is a source of information about the Jesuits and their beliefs.[12]

Social justice

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Since its 32nd General Congregation in 1972, the Society of Jesus has made the promotion of justice a central part of all of its works. The Conference facilitates cooperation toward this end among the various Jesuit works, and among those in any way connected to the Jesuits.[13]

The Jesuits’ Office of Justice and Ecology at the Conference engages with "legislators, public officials, corporations and the Jesuit network on issues including immigration and economic, criminal, juvenile and environmental justice."[14] It also carries worldwide news on ecological initiatives, especially Jesuit initiatives.[15]

The Jesuit Refugee Service, active in over 50 countries, through its local branch overseen by the Conference ministers principally to the spiritual needs of detained refugees and immigrants. An outgrowth of this has been the Kino Border Initiative for which the Jesuit provincials have shown concerted support.[16]

The Press Center disseminates news of organizations like the Ignatian Solidarity Network and its annual Ignatian Family Teach-in.[17] It also carries on its own news and advocacy efforts on its website.[18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Announcing the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States". jesuitswest.org. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  2. ^ "Statement of the Jesuits of the United States and Canada on helping migrants". St. Therese Catholic Church. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
  3. ^ "Our Province at a Glance". USA Central and Southern Province of the Society of Jesus. June 9, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  4. ^ "Haiti". Canada Province of the Society of Jesus. August 12, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  5. ^ "Homepage | USA Northeast". www.jesuitseast.org. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  6. ^ "Jesuits Central and Southern |". jesuitscentralsouthern.org. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  7. ^ "Midwest Jesuits | Chicago-Detroit and Wisconsin Provinces". jesuitsmidwest.org. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  8. ^ a b Marcus. "About Us The Jesuits". jesuits.org. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
  9. ^ "Missouri Province Celebrates 150 Years of Service". jesuitsmidwest.org. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
  10. ^ "Oregon and California Province Websites Have Been Combined". jesuitswest.org. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
  11. ^ "Mergers continue for Jesuit provinces in the US". Crux. 2014-12-03. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  12. ^ Marcus. "About Us The Jesuits". jesuits.org. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
  13. ^ "What We Do The Service of Faith and the Promotion of Justice". jesuits.org. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
  14. ^ "What We Do The Service of Faith and the Promotion of Justice". jesuits.org. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
  15. ^ "Press Release". jesuits.org. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
  16. ^ "Provincials from US and Canada visit Kino Border Initiative in Nogales, AZ". jesuitsmidwest.org. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
  17. ^ "Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice | November 4–6, 2017". Ignatian Solidarity Network. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
  18. ^ "Jesuit Advocates". cqrcengage.com. Retrieved 2018-01-01.