Environmental concerns continue to draw Jesuits in the Asian region to find ways to better understand, engage, and respond to the social and ecological challenges. (Pedro Walpole SJ, ESSC News)

There are many among the Jesuits and those who work with them who have contributed much to addressing the environmental concerns of our times, whether through research institutes, university education or social centers. At this stage, there is a major review and fundamental awareness of the need to care for creation. Exploitation or domination of creation has not been the major attitude of relating with creation. However today the Jesuits are emphasizing that reconciliation with creation, as with social justice, is fundamental to being responsible people of faith in the world. And this affects all Jesuits and all Jesuit institutions.

A focal point of ecological engagement is the Mekong River that traverses six countries and where over 60 million people depend for their food, water, transport, and incorporate their livelihoods and many aspects of their daily lives.

In selecting the Mekong region and the complexity of the management its people and resources require, Jesuits from many countries undertook an experiential workshop this month in Kompong Cham City in Cambodia that provided occasion to better understand the complexity of their work with the environment, from the perspective of Reconciliation with Creation.

The basic dynamic of reconciliation with creation is to start with gratitude for life and to experience something of this environment and life of the people, rather than immediately with the issues, to seek to learn first and not to lead, and to collaborate with those who are already engaged.

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Engaging ecologically (ESSC News)

PHOTO CREDIT

Image from the report on ESSC News