Religious
The Portuguese Province of the Society of Jesus has promoted a “social meeting dedicated to the topics of the so-called peripheries and the charitable work carried out by the Order to assist the most needy”. The Jesuits stressed in a statement that “attention to the peripheries, be they social, urban, ecological or global, is one of the main appeals made by Pope Francis to the ecclesial community”. “A priority approved by the Superior General of the Society of Jesus which is in line with the strategic aims that will be pursued and developed by the Portuguese Province from 2017 to 2023”. Contributing to the work of the third Ignatian Meeting, so named in honour of the founder, which took place at the Seminary of Almada (Lisbon), were some 80 people, including collaborators, volunteers, and Fathers working in the social sector in the 26 associations and movements of the Province, with a view to “consolidating ideas and projects, and boosting formation, debate and the exchange of expertise”. The two-day meeting was also attended by experts in the fields of the economy and the Social Doctrine of the Church, such as Manuela Silva, former president of the national Justice and Peace Commission. Through this initiative, the Portuguese Jesuit Province also hopes to promote the celebration of the World Day of the Poor, established by Pope Francis with his Encyclical Letter “Misericordia et misera”, which will be celebrated for the first time this year on 19 November.
