The second Pedro Arrupe Summer School in Forced Migration was conducted in July 2023. Eight Jesuits in formation and three religious sisters met at Campion Hall, Oxford for two weeks. They came from a variety of national origins and contexts of ministry, and most had engaged in work with Jesuit Refugee Service, or were presently filling roles in JRS or other Jesuit social ministries. One religious sister was from the Dicastery for Integral Human Development in Rome, one worked in JRS Italy, and one served at the US-Mexico Border in the Sisters Collaborative serving asylum-seekers. The purpose of the summer school was to offer insights into the global situation of forced displacement and reflect on the response of the Church theologically and through Catholic social teaching. The women participants made valuable contributions not only by expanding the group’s exposure to different contextual demands of the JRS mission to serve, advocate and accompany; together with the Jesuits, they modelled the kinds of collaboration to which JRS is committed in its mission and action.
The summer school was conducted in collaboration with the British Province, Jesuit Refugee Service, Campion Hall, University of Oxford and Boston College.
In July 14-27, 2024 they anticipate a further summer school. This summer school will build on the experience and learnings of July 2022 and 2023.