Strake Jesuit College Preparatory JRS Club Strake Jesuit College Preparatory Houston Texas © C. Grenier February 2008

JRS/USA Mission: In continuity with its quarter century of ministry to and with refugees and forcibly displaced individuals, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA (JRS/USA) affirms its mission to accompany, serve and defend the rights of these vulnerable and often forgotten people.

JRS/USA History Vietnam War ended in 1975 In 1979, large numbers of Vietnamese boat people seek refuge elsewhere. Fr. Pedro Arrupe – Superior General of the Society of Jesus appealed to Jesuit superiors for help. On November 14, 1980, a world-wide service to forcibly displaced people was born, the Jesuit Refugee Service.

History, cont. Outreach to refugees and displaced people stretches across ten geographic regions worldwide: Bangkok to Burundi, Liberia to Los Angeles, Columbia to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Over 600 workers – many volunteers – contribute to JRS, including 125 Jesuits, 60 from other religious orders and over 430 lay people.

How I got to know/learn about JRS Fr. Gavin’s JRS Forum presented at Strake Jesuit in April, 2007 http:www.jrsusa.org Photo gallery: Liberia – February 2004 Chad – April 2004 Ivory Coast – February 2004 Darfur – January 2007 Haitian Refugees – February 2008

Why I became interested in the JRS Movement My personal experience as a refugee due to Hurricane Katrina in August, 2005 Photo Gallery

The formation of the Strake Jesuit JRS Club JRS Club’s mission: to increase awareness of and response to the refugee crisis in America.

Goal Oriented Activities Spirit bands Class fundraising: supported by SJ English Department Spirit T-shirts JRS website

JRS Summer Trip Summer trip to visit the Hospitality Center for Female Migrant Workers in Nogales, Mexico, The Kino Project. Women’s clothing

Summary JRS/USA Mission Strake Jesuit JRS’s future plans Visit Cristo Rey Houston