Jesuit Refugee Service/USA Video Podcast http://www.jrsusa.org Jesuit Refugee Service/USA is one of 10 regions of Jesuit Refugee Service, an international Catholic, non-governmental organization whose mission is to serve, accompany and advocate for the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people. Feeder 2.0.7(1195) http://reinventedsoftware.com/feeder/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss en Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:40:58 -0500 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:40:58 -0500 http://www.jrsusa.org/podcast_logo3_300x300.jpg Jesuit Refugee Service/USA Video Podcast http://www.jrsusa.org 144 144 Jesuit Refugee Service/USA Our Mission: to serve, accompany and advocate for the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced peoples, witnessing to God’s presence in vulnerable and often forgotten people driven from their homes. JRS/USA’s mission is to accompany, serve and defend the rights of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons, witnessing to God’s presence in vulnerable and often forgotten people driven from their homes by conflict, natural disaster, economic injustice, or violation of their human rights. As one of the ten geographic regions of Jesuit Refugee Service, JRS/USA serves as the major refugee outreach arm of U.S. Jesuits and their institutional ministries, mobilizing their response to refugee situations in the U.S. and abroad. refugee, displaced, migrant, immigration clean Christian Fuchs jrsusa.media@gmail.com no Migrants are People with Dreams http://www.jrsusa.org Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:40:36 -0500 migrants-are-people-with-dreams Bishop Gerald Kicanas of the Diocese of Tucson, and also Vice President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, spoke at the Crisis at our Borders: The Human Reality Behind the Immigration Debate conference in October. Bishop Gerald Kicanas of the Diocese of Tucson, and also Vice President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, spoke at the Crisis at our Borders: The Human Reality Behind the Immigration Debate conference in October. Bishop Kicanas spoke during the first panel, which covered the theme of Human Rights/Human Dignity – Understanding the Need for Immigration Reform from a Border Perspective. The one-day conference at Georgetown University sought to educate and inspire students to greater knowledge, commitment, and action for immigration reform. A series of panel discussions put a human face on the migrant experience by sharing personal narratives of individuals crossing the border; exploring political/legal, economic, ethical and law enforcement perspectives on the current immigration system; making the case for policy changes, discussing ways in which the current system is failing immigrants and our communities. It also explored the prospects for immigration reform, discussed the key players in the process and talked about what such reform may look like. no 4:37 International solutions needed for migration issues http://www.jrsusa.org Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:39:09 -0500 international-solutions-needed-for-migration-issue Bishop Gerald Kicanas says that the complex issue of migration requires more than a unilateral solution, it requires international cooperation to develop sustainable and durable solutions. Bishop Gerald Kicanas of the Diocese of Tucson, and also Vice President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, spoke at the Crisis at our Borders: The Human Reality Behind the Immigration Debate conference in October. Bishop Kicanas spoke during the first panel, which covered the theme of Human Rights/Human Dignity – Understanding the Need for Immigration Reform from a Border Perspective. The one-day conference at Georgetown University sought to educate and inspire students to greater knowledge, commitment, and action for immigration reform. A series of panel discussions put a human face on the migrant experience by sharing personal narratives of individuals crossing the border; exploring political/legal, economic, ethical and law enforcement perspectives on the current immigration system; making the case for policy changes, discussing ways in which the current system is failing immigrants and our communities. It also explored the prospects for immigration reform, discussed the key players in the process and talked about what such reform may look like. no 3:19 Immigration reform requires understanding http://www.jrsusa.org Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:36:41 -0500 immigration-reform-requires-understanding Bishop Gerald Kicanas during the Crisis at our Borders: The Human Reality Behind the Immigration Debate conference. The Bishop spoke on the theme of Human Rights/Human Dignity – Understanding the Need for Immigration Reform from a Border Perspective. Bishop Gerald Kicanas of the Diocese of Tucson, and also Vice President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, spoke at the Crisis at our Borders: The Human Reality Behind the Immigration Debate conference in October. Bishop Kicanas spoke during the first panel, which covered the theme of Human Rights/Human Dignity – Understanding the Need for Immigration Reform from a Border Perspective. The one-day conference at Georgetown University sought to educate and inspire students to greater knowledge, commitment, and action for immigration reform. A series of panel discussions put a human face on the migrant experience by sharing personal narratives of individuals crossing the border; exploring political/legal, economic, ethical and law enforcement perspectives on the current immigration system; making the case for policy changes, discussing ways in which the current system is failing immigrants and our communities. It also explored the prospects for immigration reform, discussed the key players in the process and talked about what such reform may look like. no 3:10 An introduction to the Kino Border Initiative http://www.jrsusa.org/kino/index.php In collaboration with partner groups, JRS/USA seeks to serve the Church via the Kino Border Initiative by providing opportunities for pastoral formation and advocacy for the protection of human rights and the common good along the border between the United States and Mexico.

The success of the KBI depends on a vibrant and collaborative partnership among several organizations, including: the Diocese of Tucson, the Archdiocese of Hermosillo, the California Province of the Society of Jesus, the Mexico Province of the Society of Jesus, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, and the Missionary Sisters of the Eucharist.

]]> Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:56:08 -0500 an-introduction-to-the-kino-border-initiative JRS/USA seeks to serve the Church via the Kino Border Initiative by providing opportunities for pastoral formation and advocacy for the protection of human rights and the common good along the border between the United States and Mexico. no 5:53 'Forces of Good' at work on the border http://www.jrsusa.org/kino/index.php The Kino Border Initiative is a partnership of several Catholic organizations who seek to respond to the call of Christ, who is present among those who are suffering from the consequences of contemporary immigration policy, border enforcement efforts, and the reality of undocumented migration, apprehension, detention and deportation.

Over the past six years, the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) has identified comprehensive immigration reform as a major public policy priority within the Church. In 2003, U.S. Catholic Bishops collabo-rated with Mexican Bishops to promulgate the joint pastoral letter on migration, Strangers No Longer: Together on a Journey of Hope.

The bi-national ministry of the Kino Border Initiative is a collaborative effort among Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, the California Province of the Society of Jesus, the Mexico Province of the Society of Jesus, the Missionary Sisters of the Eucharist, the Archdiocese of Hermosillo and the Diocese of Tucson.

]]> Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:51:46 -0500 forces-of-good-at-work-on-the-border Jesuit Refugee Service/USA seeks to respond to the call of Christ who is present among those who are suffering from the consequences of contemporary immigration policy, border enforcement efforts, and the reality of undocumented migration. no 3:51 Transforming hearts on the U.S. – Mexico border http://www.jrsusa.org/kino/index.php The Kino Border Initiative is "a response to Jesus present in the person. That's ultimately what motivates us," says Fr. Sean Carroll, S.J., while talking about the binational efforts of the Initiative to assist deported migrants in Ambos Nogales.

Fr. Carroll shares the hope that the comprehensive and integrated three-pronged approach will lead to a transformation of minds and hearts.

Jesuit Refugee Service/USA and five partner organizations officially launched the Kino Border Initiative in the twin cities of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico and Nogales, Arizona, U.S.A., on Sunday, January 18, 2009, with a Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Nogales, Ariz.

The Kino Border Initiative “is the culmination of a three-year process of reflection, discernment and conversations along the Arizona – Mexico border about the reality of migration and the most urgent needs with respect to migration in general and for our Church in particular,” said Fr.Carroll, S.J.

]]> Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:47:44 -0500 transforming-hears-on-the-us-mexico-border The Kino Border Initiative is "a response to Jesus present in the person. That's ultimately what motivates us," says Fr. Sean Carroll, S.J., while talking about the binational efforts of the Initiative to assist deported migrants in Ambos Nogales. no 3:36 Sudanese refugees return to their homeland http://www.jrsusa.org/news/news_090821.php The Acholi people are indigenous to Lobone. But, because of the civil war between the Sudan government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, thousands of people fled their homes, with many going to refugee camps in Uganda.

In 2001, JRS was invited by the Diocese of Torit to assist the community in both providing quality basic education and in pastoral activities.

After the signing of a peace accord between the Government of Southern Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement in January 2005, the indigenous Acholi from Lobone started to return home voluntarily. The fear of staying in troubled northern Uganda, mixed with a longing to return home, prompted many to return.

Guided by its mission to accompany, serve and advocate for refugees, JRS has been supporting education and peace-building activities in Lobone.

JRS is the only international non-government organization currently working in the area, and it supports educational activities from pre-school, through primary, secondary to adult literacy, as well as teacher training and peace building/conflict resolution.

The new Government of Southern Sudan has put a high priority on developing the education sector, but there are major challenges. At the time the peace agreement was signed, the vast majority of primary schools were operating under trees, and there were almost no trained teachers – any individual in a village who could read or write a little would gather children under the trees informally every now and again to try and teach them their ABCs. None of these teachers received salaries, and many had only completed two or three years of primary schooling.

The JRS team has mobilized the returnees as teachers. A good harmony has been created, in that the Senior Four pupils (who were supported by JRS in 2007 to sit for their exams in Uganda) were interviewed and appointed as primary teachers this year to teach their brothers and sisters. These newly recruited teachers were given the basic training in order to become effective teachers.

JRS is grateful to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) for its on-going support of this important project for recent returnees in Lobone, Southern Sudan.

]]> Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:45:17 -0500 sudanese-refugees-return-to-their-homeland Guided by its mission to accompany, serve and advocate for refugees, JRS has been supporting education and peace-building activities in Lobone, Southern Sudan. JRS has helped build a permanent school, and provided teacher training. no 3:09 JRS/USA ministers to detainees http://www.jrsusa.org/we_do_advocacy.php Fr. Kenneth J. Gavin, S.J., the Regional Director of Jesuit Refugee Service/USA talks about the chaplaincy services provided by Jesuit Refugee Service/USA to detainees in detention centers across the United States.

"We make sure men and women who are detained have access to the solace of their God, in whatever religious tradition they come from," says Fr. Gavin, noting that JRS ministers to Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Protestant and other detainees.

"There is a dramatic need people have to really experience God in their life," says Fr. Gavin. "In all the anxiety of detention, they know that the Lord is with them."

]]> Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:40:22 -0500 jrsusa-ministers-to-detainees Fr. Kenneth J. Gavin, S.J., the Regional Director of Jesuit Refugee Service/USA talks about the chaplaincy services provided by Jesuit Refugee Service/USA to detainees in detention centers across the United States. no 2:04 Jesuit Refugee Service works to ban landmines http://www.jrsusa.org/support_take_action.php Fr. Bernard Arputhasamy, S.J., Regional Director of Jesuit Refugee Service – Asia Pacific, notes that the campaign to ban landmines is a priority for Jesuit Refugee Service.

Global adherence to the Mine Ban Treaty and Convention on Cluster Munitions is the only effective way to stop the use of antipersonnel landmines and cluster munitions, and to fully address the humanitarian consequences of past use of these weapons, the Nobel Peace Laureate International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) says.

“Raising awareness on landmines and explosive remnants of war is essential, but it is not enough,” said the ICBL’s Executive Director Sylvie Brigot. “Those who only pay lip service to dealing with these inhumane weapons need to get serious. Unless and until all countries in the world join the treaties banning landmines and cluster munitions, these weapons will continue to claim the lives and limbs of innocent civilians.”

]]> Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:34:08 -0500 jesuit-refugee-service-works-to-ban-landmines Fr. Bernard Arputhasamy, S.J., Regional Director of Jesuit Refugee Service – Asia Pacific, notes that the campaign to ban landmines is a priority for Jesuit Refugee Service. no 0:43