Social Justice in Jesuit Contexts

This is a Graduate-level on-line course.. The Social Apostolate of the Society of Jesus has developed in a variety of ways over the centuries according the diverse contexts where Jesuits have operated as agents of "social justice." This class offers students both a broad and deep understanding of: (1) How the Society of Jesus developed its mission in support of creating a "preferential option for the poor"; (2) How the Society understood its role to promote liberation from oppression in diverse social environments; (3) What kind of services have been activated by the Society of Jesus in order to fulfill its core values of "the service of faith and promotion of justice"; and (4) How social justice is pursued through pedagogy and practices by Jesuit and Ignatian schools today, given the significant involvement of the Jesuits with formal education on a global scale. The course is designed to foster deep and meaningful conversation among students. It will include individual and collective readings and video-conferences with leaders and teachers of Jesuit schools around the world, deepening students' knowledge of current practices and stimulating dialogue.