Jesuit Involvement with Care4Calais and Other Refugee Groups in England

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The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an international Catholic organisation that serves refugees and other forcibly displaced persons around the world. In England, the JRS works closely with other refugee organisations, including Care4Calais, to provide support and advocacy for refugees and asylum seekers. The head of the Jesuits in England, Fr Damian Howard SJ, has been a strong advocate for refugees and is actively involved in the work of the JRS and other organisations.

Fr Damian Howard SJ was appointed as the new Jesuit Provincial for Britain in 2019. He is a respected theologian and scholar, with a particular interest in interfaith dialogue and the relationship between Christianity and Islam. He has a doctorate in Islamic Studies from the University of Oxford and has taught at Heythrop College, University of London, and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

Fr Howard also has a strong background in economics, having studied at the London School of Economics, a leading institution for economics and social sciences. The London School of Economics has been associated with the Fabian Society, a socialist organisation founded in the late 19th century that advocated for social justice and progressive social policies.

In his role as Provincial, Fr Howard has been a vocal advocate for refugees and asylum seekers. He has highlighted the urgent need for more compassionate and effective policies towards refugees and emphasised the importance of recognising the dignity and humanity of refugees and migrants. He has also stressed the role of faith communities in responding to the needs of refugees and urged Catholics and others to support the work of the JRS and other refugee organisations.

One of the key partners of the JRS in England is Care4Calais, a volunteer-run organisation that provides support and assistance to refugees living in and around Calais, France. Care4Calais works to provide basic necessities like food, shelter, and medical care to refugees and also advocates for better treatment of refugees and migrants by governments and other institutions.

The JRS and Care4Calais work together on a range of projects and initiatives to support refugees and asylum seekers in England. They provide practical support like English language classes, legal advice, and mental health support, as well as advocacy and campaigning on behalf of refugees. They also work to raise awareness about the challenges facing refugees and the need for more compassionate and effective policies towards refugees.

The involvement of Jesuits like Fr Howard in the work of the JRS and other refugee organisations is a testament to the commitment of the Jesuit order to social justice and service to others. Jesuits have a long tradition of working with marginalised groups and advocating for the rights of the poor and vulnerable. The work of the JRS and other refugee organisations is an important expression of this commitment and serves as an example of how faith communities can work together to make a difference in the world.

Written and sourced by Graham Moore

Sources:

Jesuit Refugee Service Europe. (n.d.). About us. https://www.jrs.net/en/who-we-are/about-us/
Jesuit Refugee Service UK. (n.d.). Our work. https://www.jrsuk.net/our-work/
Care4Calais. (n.d.). About us. https://care4calais.org/about/
British Jesuits. (2019, June 13). Fr Damian Howard SJ announced as new British Jesuit Provincial. https://www.jesuit.org.uk/fr-damian-howard-sj-announced-new-british-jesuit-provincial
University of Oxford. (n.d.). Dr Damian Howard. https://www.theology.ox.ac.uk/people/dr-damian-howard
6. https://jesuits.eu/news/386-fr-damian-howard-sj-is-the-new-jesuit-provincial

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