Campion Hall Hosts Second Year of Pedro Arrupe Summer School in Forced Migration

This year’s participants consisted of eight Jesuits in formation and three religious sisters hailing from a variety of national origins and contexts of ministry. Over the course of two weeks, the participants were offered insights into the global situation of forced displacement, using Ignatian, philosophical and theological tools to reflect on the response of the Church and the Catholic social teaching. They explored various topics including drivers of displacement, the international protection framework, and barriers to protection in national policies and their implementation. Participants also had the opportunity to hear from refugees and migrants as well as from experienced JRS workers.

The course was taught in various formats including lectures, small group discussions, films, and excursions. The curriculum drew on the expertise of current JRS leadership and field representatives, Jesuit scholars of philosophy and theology from Campion Hall, faculty and research fellows of the Oxford Refugee Studies Centre, Boston College faculty, and theologians and experts on Catholic social teaching from Jesuit universities internationally.

Programme Director Dr Maryanne Loughry noted that the international constituency and experience of participants themselves proved a unique opportunity for sharing experiences, obstacles, and success stories, furthering mutual refinement of “best practices.” She commented: “Shared learning advanced the understanding of how to fulfil the one JRS mission of accompaniment, service, and advocacy through diverse local strategies adapted to particular histories, cultures, capacities, and migrant populations.”

The Pedro Arrupe Summer School, along with the Pedro Arrupe Research Fellow in Forced Migration Studies (currently Dr Hiba Salem), are an expression of Campion Hall’s Jesuit commitment to the promotion of justice and to the protection of human rights. Plans for a further summer school in 2024 is underway and the Hall looks forward to welcoming a new group of Jesuits and JRS partners through its doors in due course.