Mission Office workshop

The Irish Jesuit Mission Office held a workshop from 7-12 March to re-envision its apostolic mandate and to discern its future direction. Changed realities have made fresh thinking necessary. On the one hand, the number of Irish Jesuit missionaries is declining; on the other hand, however, the Society is growing well in Asia and Africa. Representatives of the Zambia/Malawi, Eastern Africa, China, Korea and Irish Provinces were all present at the workshop. Also attending were guests from Irish Aid, Misean Cara, Slí Eile, Jesuit Refugee Services and the Voluntary Missionary Movement. It was held in the Manresa Tertianship in Dublin, was facilitated by Eamonn Brehony and funded by Misean Cara. The Provincial, Fr. John Dardis, and the Pastoral Delegate, PJ Farrell, attended on the final morning in order to hear what thoughts had emerged and to share their response.