Jesuit Missions – Spring Appeal

Jesuit Missions logo

My work with the Jesuit Missions followed hot on the heels of projects with Christian Aid, the Diocese of Oxford and Leprosy Mission. I’m not a Christian, but every time I work with Christian organisations, I’m inspired by their depth of commitment, weight of support and, often, the progressiveness of their approach.

Founded in 1534 by St Ignatius Loyola, the Jesuit Order believe in ‘finding God in all things’, quite a revolutionary thought at the time. And both this central idea and its radicalness have continued to the present day.

Writing their spring appeal about the urgent humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, I was impressed and disarmed by Director of Jesuit Missions Paul Chitnis’s honesty. During a visit to the war-torn region, he found himself “wondering where God is”.

We made this the lead headline in the letter, which drew heavily on Paul’s personal experience meeting Julia, a young mother of five, who faces hunger and the risk of malaria and other diseases daily. It was a powerful story to tell.

Jesuit Missions’ work in South Sudan is not only about humanitarian relief. They fund mental health support for disabled children, rehabilitation programmes for adults, and, more widely, raise awareness of the connections between conflict, hunger, poverty and climate change.

Their individual giving programme is small but growing, and it was a privilege to play a part in its development. So it was fantastic to hear this initial feedback from the client:

“Thank you once again for your incredible efforts—we've received numerous responses, and we greatly appreciate your hard work.”

I look forward to watching their impact grow in the months and years to come.