JSRI In The News

The Third Year [2009-10]

International Immigration Seminar (January 23-February 4, 2010)

JSRI hosted Latin American immigration researchers for a ten-day intensive seminar-workshop in the realities of the US immigration picture. Leaders from Jesuit Refugee Service and Jesuit Migration Service in Mexico, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua participated in activities in Louisiana and Texas designed to enhance their knowledge of US immigration history, migration patterns, detention and deportation practices, economic factors, police practices, and legal proceedings. Funded by the ALMAR Foundation, the seminar was coordinated by Father Tom Greene, SJ, JSRI Associate for Migration and Loyola professor.

For a full description see The Immigrant Experience by Julie Bourbon, reprinted with permission from The Southern Jesuit, Spring 2010. Read more.

Winter Activities:

On January 30, Fr. Fred Kammer, SJ presented a workshop on Catholic Social Teaching to members of the Lousiana Conference of Catholic Students at their annual meeting held this year at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
On January 27, Dr. Alex Mikulich attended the “Cornerstone Builders Symposium for Systemic Change,” on January 27, 2010 at St Joseph Abbey in Covington, LA. Ronnie Moore, Program Director of Cornerstone Builders, a program of Catholic Charities New Orleans, organized the third annual symposium as a prayerful retreat and conference for social activists, government and law enforcement officials, prisoner mentors, and formerly incarcerated persons who work together to facilitate successful re-entry of formerly incarcerated persons into society. Mikulich is collaborating with organizers and participants of the symosium as part of his ongoing research and advocacy to address intersecting issues of race, poverty, and the prison system.
From January 24-25, 2010, Fr. Fred Kammer, SJ facilitated the mid-year retreat for the Board of Directors of Strake Jesuit College Prep in Houston.
From January 21-23, 2010, Fr. Fred Kammer, SJ and Mary Baudouin led sixty volunteers of the southern region of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps through their winter retreat at the H.E.B. Camp in the Texas hill country on social justice, Catholic social teaching, and ways to connect justice and spirituality.
From January 15-17, 2010, Fr. Fred Kammer, SJ led eighty volunteers of the eastern region of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps through their winter retreat at the Assisi Retreat Center outside Scranton, PA on social justice, Catholic social teaching, and ways to connect justice and spirituality.
On January 9, 2010, Dr Alex Mikulich presented “White Privilege and the Economic Conditions of African American Families” as part of a panel concerning African American families at the Society of Christian Ethics Annual Meeting in San Jose, CA.
On January 8, 2010, Dr Alex Mikulich presented “Privilege from Somewhere: (Mis)Placing Race and (Re)Placing Whiteness in Economic Justice for All” on January 8, 2010 as part of a panel discussing the upcoming 25th Anniversary of Economic Justice for All at the Society of Christian Ethics Annual Meeting in San Jose, CA.
On January, 7, 2010, Dr Alex Mikulich, presented a lecture “Catholic Social Teaching and White Privilege in the Age of Obama” at the Markula Center for Applied Ethics of Santa Clara University. He also facilitated a conversation with twelve Santa Clara University student-leaders concerned about manifestations of white privilege and racism on their campus, including racist-theme parties, which Mikulich addressed in his lecture.

Fall Activities:

On November 17, 2009, JSRI completed its annual conference spanning three weeks of activities: People on the Move and the Common Good: Migration, Poverty, and Racism: Converging Concerns for our Future. See "JSRI Forums." The conference took the partcipants from the local experience of Katrina-displaced people to the worldwide experience of refugees and asylum-seekers.

Jesuit Refugee Service photo

On October 30, 2009, Anna Alicia Chavez presented a workshop in Houston TX to teach parish leaders how to use the materials for the US bishops' Justice for Immigrants Campaign. This was done at the request of Catholic Relief Services.
During the Jackson MS priests' convocation of October 12-15, 2009, Anna Alicia Chavez presented an all-day workshop on Evangelization and Multiculturalism.
In September and October, 2009 , Father Fred Kammer, SJ, gave the following nine addresses across the country:
- “Pope Benedict XVI and the Church in the Public Square,” to the City Club of Cleveland (September 15, 2009)
- “Spirituality: Seeing the Divine in Our Midst,” to the Catholic Community Connection in Cleveland (September 16, 2009)
- Three talks—“Charity and the Call of the Gospel,” “The Eucharist and Justice,” and “Preaching Social Ministry and Social Justice,”—to the Indianapolis Archdiocesan Conference on Spreading Hope in Neighborhoods Everywhere (October 1, 2009)
- Two talks—one on health care reform and the other on spirituality for social ministry—for a conference sponsored by the Justice and Peace Office and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh (October 2-3, 2009)
- Two talks—“At the Heart of the Matter: Justice and the Internal and External Challenges in Catholic Healthcare”—to the Collaborative Sponsor Formation Program in Oak Brook, Illinois (October 10, 2009)
On September 29, 2009, Anna Alicia Chavez gave a presentation to the Louisiana Interchurch Conference board of bishops and denominational leaders on immigration and immigration reform. On September 23, 2009, she did a similar presentation for the members of the regional meeting of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM).
On September 28, 2009, Dr. Alex Mikulich presented a talk on white privilege and racism in Louisiana and the U.S. to the Louisiana Interchurch Conference board of bishops and denominational leaders.
On September 25, 2009, Dr. Alex Mikulich presented the keynote address to the Archdiocese of Chicago's Anti-Racism Leadership Development Day--"Walking the Walk toward Racial Justice."
In late September, 2009, Wipf and Stock Publishers produced the new book by Fr. Fred Kammer, SJ, entitled Faith. Works. Wonders.--An Insider's Guide to Catholic Charities as his contribution to kicking off the celebration of the centennial of Catholic Charities USA (2009-2010).

New Staff:

In September, 2009, Ms. Christi Schott joined the staff as Administrative Assistant. See "Staff" for her background.
In August, 2009, Ms. Anna Alicia Chavez joined the staff as Migration Specialist. See "Staff" for her background. Fr. Arroyo and Fr. Greene assumed new responsibilities as Associates of the Institute.

The Second Year [2008-09]

Summer Activities:

In July, 2009, Fr. Ted Arroyo, SJ continues work on the US Jesuit Conference national survey on how the current economic downturn is impacting inner city Jesuit ministries. Preliminary results of the survey as well as more information about the project can be obtained from Amy Newlon (e-mail anewlon@jesuit.org), research coordinator for the Jesuit Conference Office of Social and International Ministries.

Ted’s research is nearing completion on the feasibility of developing a training program for ministry to recent migrants in the Gulf South. After his imminent move to Mobile, where he will be rector of the Spring Hill College Jesuit Community, Ted hopes to continue collaborating with JSRI as Alabama Associate.
In June, 2009, Tom Gill, JSRI Intern (Summer of '08), gave the student address at the graduation at the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government. Tom has a strong interest in immigration and public policy and worked in that area during his summer with us.
In June, 2009, Fr. Tom Greene, SJ, co-led a two week immersion experience for Loyola students in Kingston, Jamaica in which JSRI partnered with Loyola Campus Ministry. The trip provided these undergraduates an opportunity for service learning while also reflecting on the structural causes of the poverty and inequality on the island.
Tom also participated in discussions with staff of US Representative Anh Cao regarding policy recommendations for comprehensive immigration reform and was invited to take part in a series of roundtable discussion with Immigration Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) regarding immigration policy and enforcement.
From June 15-20, 2009, Fr. Fred Kammer, SJ, worked with the participants in the Ministry of Management program of the New Orleans Province, providing input on leadership, management, and Ignatian spirituality and guiding their final group exercises. On June 1, 2009, he was in Adrian, Michigan, as a consultant to the work of the Catholic Charities USA task force on Catholic Identity in Catholic Charities agencies.
Dr. Alex Mikulich presented two theological papers in June:

On June 11, 2009:“Hope Beyond the Lynching Tree?”—Re-membering Lynched Bodies, Re-membering Ourselves—Toward the Audacity of Eucharistic Hope” to the conference of the International Journal Concilium at Loyola University Chicago.

On June 6, 2009: Do this in Memory of Me”: Remembering Broken Bodies, Remembering Ourselves: Engaging the Impasse of White Racism through the Audacity of Eucharistic Hope in the Age of Obama” as panelist selected by the President of the Catholic Theological Society of America for its annual meeting in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The paper is available at http://www.loyno.edu/jsri/reports/index.htm

New JustSouth E-newsletter:

In May, 2009, JSRI launched its new JustSouth E-newsletter to appear in months that it does not publish the JustSouth Quarterly. See "Publications."
On May 30, 2009, Dr. Alex Mikulich co-facilitated a Special Forum addressing “Race, Diversity, and Pedagogy” at the Annual Meeting of the College Theology Society at the University of Notre Dame on May 30th. He also co-convened two sections of the Mysticism and Politics Group at the Annual Meeting of the College Theology Society held at the University of Notre Dame.
May-June, 2009--Sociologist Fr. Ted Arroyo, SJ, serves on a working group for the Jesuit Conference USA investigating how the current economic downturn is affecting Jesuit ministries which serve poor inner city populations. He is also presenting an overview of Catholic social thought at Catholic Charities USA’s Parish Social Ministry Regional Training in Baton Rouge, June 5-7th. His recent article on Faith Based Organizations’ roles in the post-Katrina recovery can be found here.
From May 7-9, 2009 Fr. Fred Kammer, SJ, our new director, was moderator for the semi-annual meeting of the Executive Committee of Caritas Internationalis in Rome, Italy as they considered new statutes for the international organization of Catholic charitable agencies, as well as climate change, climate justice, and other business. His new book on Catholic Charities has been accepted for publication and should be released in the fall.

New JustSouth Quarterly:

In April, 2009, JSRI launched its new JustSouth Quarterly. See "Publications."
On April 28, 2009, Dr Alex Mikulich presented “Hurricane Katrina: Racial Privilege and Oppression in Gospel Perspective” to an immersion group from La Salle High School, Union Gap, Washington, at Duchesne House, New Orleans.
April 16-18, 2009, Fr. Tom Greene, SJ was a panelist at the Southeastern Council on Latin American Studies (SECOLAS) annual conference, which was held in New Orleans. Tom joined students from Tulane University’s Stone Center for Latin American Studies to discuss their research and findings from a migration journey that he co-led during the summer of 2008. More information and publications from the conference are available at http://www.southalabama.edu/secolas/
Dr. Alex Mikulich co-facilitated an April 16-19, 2009 training session in San Antonio for Pax Christi USA’s Anti-Racism Team in how to facilitate anti-racism sessions for Pax Christi and other groups. He continues his work on incarceration and racial disparities, presentations to local groups, and writing.
On March 24, 2009, The University of Scranton presented its annual Pedro Arrupe, S.J., Award for Distinguished Contributions to Ignatian Mission and Ministries at a University Assembly on March 24, 2009 to Mary Baudouin, assistant for social ministries for the Jesuits of the New Orleans Province, Loyola graduate, co-founder of LUCAP, and part of the staff of the Jesuit Social Research Institute. The Arrupe Award is named in honor of the late Very Rev. Pedro Arrupe, S.J., the Jesuit superior general from 1965 to 1983.

New Executive Director:

On March 1, 2009, Loyola University New Orleans College of Social Sciences and the Jesuit Social Research Institute is happy to announce Fr. Fred Kammer, S.J., J.D., was appointed as Director of the Jesuit Social Research Institute. Click on the above link to read the article formally announcing Fr. Kammer as JSRI Executive Director.

On December 8,2008, Fr. Tom Greene, S.J. gave a presentation entitled, "Migration and Mujeres: The Impact of Migration on Latina Women" at Loyola University's Women's Resource Center.
On December 6, 2008, Fr. Tom Greene, S.J. was interviewed by the Community Gumbo radio program. Fr. Greene spoke about undocumented migration and the experience of migrating north through Central America and Mexico with a group of graduate students from Stone Center for Latin American Studies at Tulane University. The faculty and students who made the August migration experience were also interviewed. A transcript of the interview is available at the following link: http://communitygumbo.blogspot.com/2008/12/12062008-community-gumbo.html

First Forum:

On October 1, 2008, the Jesuit Social Research Institute collaborated with the Loyola University President, Fr. Kevin Wildes, S.J., in presenting a Presidential Forum on the 2008 elections. To learn more about this event, please go to JSRI Forums which can be accessed from the In This Section Column.
On September 19, 2008, the Jesuit Social Research Institute was awarded a grant from the prestigious Carnegie Corporation of New York to advance social justice in New Orleans and beyond. Click on the above link to read more about the Carnegie Corporation Grant and the association with JSRI.
On September 10, 2008, Dr. Alex Mikulich, theologian and Research Fellow on race and poverty was invited to full membership in the Black Catholic Theological Symposium (BCTS). Please click on the hyperlink above to learn more about this phenonmenal achievement.

The First Year [2007-08]

On May 29, 2008, Fr. Tom Greene, SJ made a presentation for the Heartland Center and the Diocese of Gary. The talk centered around the need for comprehensive immigration reform and the plight of undocumented immigrants in New Orleans.
On May 7, 2008, Fr. Tom Greene, SJ presented testimony before the Louisiana House Criminal Justice Committee on House Bill 1157, which would make it a crime to provide housing to undocumented ("illegal") immigrants. The Times Picayune coverage of the bill and Fr. Greene's testimony can be accessed from the above hyperlink.
April 23, 2008 JSRI fellows advocate for immigrants. Frs. Tom Greene, SJ and Ted Arroyo, SJ were part of a coalition lobbying against proposed Louisiana legislation that would criminalize certain ways of caring for immigrants. See the story by clicking on the following hyperlink entitled Times Picayune article.
April 16, 2008 Rev. Michael Bouzigard, S.J. presented a paper entitled "Globalisation and International Migration: Catholic Social Teaching Principles and Socio-economic Development Through Remittances from the United States of America to Mexico" at the Academic Workshop on the Social Doctrine of the Church in the Social and Economic Field (Sponsored by University Centre Saint-Ignatius Antwerp and International Institute CanonTriest, Ghen, Belgium). Please click on the hyperlink above to read an abstract of the paper presented.
"Christian Social Responsibility in a Post-Katrina City" was the title of a presentation facilitated by Fr. Ted Arroyo, SJ, JSRI director, on Thursday, March 28,2008 in Loyola University's Nunemaker Hall. Approximately 140 visiting high school students and their mentors came together to reflect on their service and immersion experiences in post-Katrina New Orleans. These groups came from 9 Catholic High Schools from all over the United States. The PowerPoint version of this presentation can be downloaded by clicking on the title above.
March 8, 2008 Fr. Tom Greene, SJ delivered a talk entitled "Comprehensive Imagination Reform" at the Ignatian Solidarity Network Teach-in on immigration. The event was held at Loyola High School in Los Angeles and included over five hundred participants from more than thirty Jesuit high schools and universities.
"Racism" was the topic discussed by faculty from 5 Jesuit High Schools in the south on Saturday, February 23, 2008 as part of the New Orleans Province High School Colloquium held at Strake Jesuit in Houston. JSRI director Fr. Ted Arroyo, S.J. facilitated their reflection using the PowerPoint presentation which can be downloaded by clicking on the title above.
January 21, 2008 Fr. Tom Greene, SJ participated in the Dillard-Xavier-Loyola-Tulane Interfaith Prayer Service, where he recognized the life of Martin L. King, Jr. in a Reflection speech. Click on the following link, to read the speech entitled, Martin Luther King Day Reflection.
January 4, 2008 Fr. Tom Greene, SJ presented a paper on "Immigration, Family, and the Social Order" at the Society of Christian Ethics Annual Conference.
Fr. Tom Greene, SJ, JSRI research fellow, is working with the Archdiocese of New Orleans Hispanic Apostolate, Catholic Charities, and Puentes, Inc. to design and implement culltural sensitivity training aimed at improving public safety and communication between the New Orleans Police Department and the immigrant community.
December 19, 2007 Fr. Tom Greene, SJ will be a guest on Radio Station KGLA, 1540 "Radio Tropical" New Orleans where he will discuss the work that Jesuits do on behalf of migrants and refugees. In particular, he will focus on the work of the Jesuit Refugee Service and the Jesuit Migration Service of Latin America (Servicio Jesuita a Migrantes.)
December 10, 2007 Times Picayune editor John Pope brings attention to the Jesuit Social Research Institute in the article entitled Loyola, Jesuits team up for social service project.
December 8, 2007Archdiocesan paper focuses on JSRI in New Jesuit institute to focus on social issues by Peter Finney, Jr. | CLARION HERALD
November 29 to December 6,2007, Fr. Tom Greene, SJ participated as a consultant during the national meetings of the Jesuit Refugee Service of Panama, which works on behalf of Colombian refugees living in Panama. Fr. Greene was invited to participate by JRS Latin America Director, Alfredo Infante, SJ and was asked to provide input surrounding human rights investigations and micro-finance projects undertaken by JRS-Panama. Fr. Greene also visited the field projects on the Colombian border where he made a presentation on JSRI's advocacy efforts on behalf of immigrants and refugees.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007, The Rev. Kevin Wm. Wildes, S.J., president of Loyola University New Orleans, and the Rev. Fred Kammer, S.J., provincial of the New Orleans Province, Society of Jesus, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, formally establishing the Jesuit Social Research Institute (JSRI) as a joint undertaking of Loyola University New Orleans and the Jesuit Province.

Frs. Wildes and Kammer sign the memorandum of understanding while Fr. Arroyo looks on.

November 12-16, 2007 Frs. Edward Arroyo, SJ, Michael Bouzigard, SJ, and Thomas Greene, SJ, fellows of Loyola's Jesuit Social Research Institute, participated in the International Congress on Migration at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Leon, Mexico, November 12-15. The theme of the Congress dealt with the relationship between migration and development. They also participated in the 6th annual meeting of the Jesuit Migration Service of North and Central America which followed the Congress.
November 5, 2007 JSRI Mentioned in French Notice, click on link to see publication: French JSRI notice
October 24, 2007 Fr. Edward Arroyo, SJ, JSRI director, was interviewed on the Sirius Satellite Radio Network's JustLove program about his work on Ethics in Public Policy: the book The Ethics of Lobbying: Organized Interests, Political Power and the Common Good. The complete text of his book can be downloaded from:

http://woodstock.georgetown.edu/programs/ethicspubpol.htm

October 23, 2007 Fr. Tom Greene, SJ, research fellow was a panelist and presenter at the University of New Orleans forum on immigration. Fr. Greene addressed the issue of the social effects on immigration.
October 8-15, 2007 Fr. Tom Greene, SJ and the JSRI partnered with two Jesuit universities in Central America, Universidad Centroamericana (UCA) in El Salvador and Universidad Rafael Landivar (Guatemala), to develop a pilot project that assists in the family reunification of deported minors. Fr. Greene also worked with Gilma Perez, director of the human rights institute of the UCA to resolve cases of Salvadorans detained by immigration authorities in the U.S.
October 4, 2007 Fr. Tom Greene, SJ, presented testimony about the decline in medical care for detainees to a hearing of the U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law.

His testimony can be found on our website at http://www.loyno.edu/jsri/advocacy1.htm

October 2, 2007 Fr. Tom Greene, SJ, made a presentation on Disposable People as part of Loyola Week. His talk will be published in Blueprint for Social Justice and is available on the jsri website:

http://www.loyno.edu/jsri/reports/disposable_people.htm

Loyola University New Orleans