As reported in the spring edition of Jesuits and Friends (issue 66), the South African Region has opened a new apostolate. Since January, the Jesuit Institute - South Africa (JISA) has had a flood of requests for many different types of work: training in palliative pastoral care; ongoing spiritual direction; lecturing to civil servants, MPhil students, deacon candidates and catechists; giving school retreats and retreats in daily life; writing articles; clergy formation and clergy retreats; facilitating a clergy synod; media relations; trauma counselling; a philosophy conference; CLC accompaniment; and vocation discernment. The list grows as the Institute becomes better known.

Clearly there are many needs, and the Church is no less needy than other sectors of South African society. But if we were to respond to all the needs, then the Institute would be unable to pursue its own mission to promote respectful, informed dialogue between the Church and the secular world. In Part VII of the Constitutions, Ignatius gives Jesuits some criteria for choosing ministries. As we discern the calls on JISA, we need to bear these criteria in mind. We should, for example, be seeking contact with those people who might be multipliers in society as well as the poor, even if this may seem elitist.

There are a few principles that have been part of the work of JISA from the outset, and which we intend to keep as part of our culture. The most important is that it is a collaborative work between Jesuits and laypeople. The initial staff have been three lay women and five Jesuits (two of whom are scholastics on short-term placements). The laypeople are the full-time members of the former Centre for Ignatian Spirituality, and they form the core of the spirituality team.

Another important principle of our work is that it is multidisciplinary and integrative. This means that we try to bring as many different areas of specialisation (psychological, social, theological, philosophical and spiritual) to bear on whatever matter we deal with. We believe that this holistic approach gives added value to whatever we have to contribute to the important issues of the day.

JISA was set up to bring an informed Catholic voice to debate in the secular world in South African society. We do not want to duplicate, even less to compete with, work already being done by well-established and respected organs of the Church, or indeed by secular NGO's. But, to borrow from a popular beer advert, we “want to reach those parts of society that other ecclesiastical voices don't reach”.

In an increasingly materialist culture, JISA faces the challenge of critically fostering deeper values that promote community, compassion and spiritual and intellectual growth. This will require some courage from the members of the Institute and our associates to venture into areas usually considered “off limits” to the Church. If the voice of the Church is to be heard by those who wield influence in our society, then we must “go in their door”.

For more information, visit our website at www.jesuitinstitute.org.za