13th “Arrupe Dollar” campaign

On Sunday 19th January 2014, the Church celebrated the 100th World Day of Migrants and Refugees. This day, initiated in 1914 by Pope Benedict XV, is meant to raise awareness among the faithful and all people of good will about the situation of people who leave their home, their land, their country, … for whatever reason, to seek refuge or better living conditions in another country. This phenomenon has become global.

In his message for this world day, Pope Francis urged to replace the “throwaway culture” by a “culture of encounter”:

“A change of attitude towards migrants and refugees is needed on the part of everyone, moving away from attitudes of defensiveness and fear, indifference and marginalization – all typical of a throwaway culture – towards attitudes based on a culture of encounter, the only culture capable of building a better, more just and fraternal world…”

(extract from the message of Pope Francis on 19th January 2013 for the 100th World Day of Migrants and Refugees with the theme: “Migrants et Refugees : towards a better world”)

In this year 2014, the Pedro Arrupe World Association would like to support initiatives taken here and there by several international (JRS, AJAN…) and national Jesuit networks (for example, in France, the “Welcome” project of JRS France that support the hosting, the education, the insertion of migrants and refugees.

The Association calls for the generosity of Alumni from the entire world, for this cause, which remains one of her priorities for this year.

Let some new donators join the long-standings ones, so that Jesuit Alumni can “make a difference” for this cause!

Paris, Monday 20th January 2014

Laurent Grégoire and Eric de Langsdorff
On behalf of the operational committee of the Pedro Arrupe World Association

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