The Second Year [2008 - 2009]

Summer Activities:

  • In July, 2009, Fr. Ted Arroyo, SJ continued work on the US Jesuit Conference national survey on how the current economic downturn is impacting inner city Jesuit ministries. Preliminary results of the survey as well as more information about the project can be obtained from Amy Newlon (e-mail anewlon@jesuit.org), research coordinator for the Jesuit Conference Office of Social and International Ministries. ... Ted continued research the feasibility of developing a training program for ministry to recent migrants in the Gulf South. After his imminent move to Mobile, where he will be rector of the Spring Hill College Jesuit Community, Ted hopes to continue collaborating with JSRI as Alabama Associate.
  • In June, 2009, Tom Gill, JSRI Intern (Summer of '08), gave the student address at the graduation at the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government. Tom has a strong interest in immigration and public policy and worked in that area during his summer with us.
  • In June, 2009, Fr. Tom Greene, SJ, co-led a two week immersion experience for Loyola students in Kingston, Jamaica in which JSRI partnered with Loyola Campus Ministry. The trip provided these undergraduates an opportunity for service learning while also reflecting on the structural causes of the poverty and inequality on the island.

    Tom also participated in discussions with staff of US Representative Anh Cao regarding policy recommendations for comprehensive immigration reform and was invited to take part in  a series of roundtable discussion with Immigration Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) regarding immigration policy and enforcement.

  • From June 15-20, 2009, Fr. Fred Kammer, SJ, and Mary Baudouin worked with the participants in the Ministry of Management program of the New Orleans Province, providing input on leadership, management, and Ignatian spirituality and guiding their final group exercises.  On June 1, 2009, he was in Adrian, Michigan, as a consultant to the work of the Catholic Charities USA task force on Catholic Identity in Catholic Charities agencies.
  • Dr. Alex Mikulich presented two theological papers in June:
    • On June 11, 2009:“Hope Beyond the Lynching Tree?”—Re-membering Lynched Bodies, Re-membering Ourselves—Toward the Audacity of Eucharistic Hope” to the conference of the International Journal Concilium at Loyola University Chicago. 
    • On June 6, 2009: Do this in Memory of Me”: Remembering Broken Bodies, Remembering Ourselves: Engaging the Impasse of White Racism through the Audacity of Eucharistic Hope in the Age of Obama” as panelist selected by the President of the Catholic Theological Society of America for its annual meeting in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Read paper »
  • New JustSouth E-newsletter: In May, 2009, JSRI launched its new JustSouth E-newsletter to appear in months that it does not publish the JustSouth Quarterly.  See Publications + Reports »
  • On May 30, 2009, Dr. Alex Mikulich co-facilitated a Special Forum addressing “Race, Diversity, and Pedagogy” at the Annual Meeting of the College Theology Society at the University of Notre Dame on May 30th.  He also co-convened two sections of the Mysticism and Politics Group at the Annual Meeting of the College Theology Society held at the University of Notre Dame. 
  • May-June, 2009--Sociologist Fr. Ted Arroyo, SJ, serves on a working group for the Jesuit Conference USA investigating how the current economic downturn is affecting Jesuit ministries which serve poor inner city populations. He is also presenting an overview of Catholic social thought at Catholic Charities USA’s Parish Social Ministry Regional Training in Baton Rouge, June 5-7th. His recent article on Faith Based Organizations’ roles in the post-Katrina recovery can be found here.
  • From May 7-9, 2009 Fr. Fred Kammer, SJ, our new director, was moderator for the semi-annual meeting of the Executive Committee of Caritas Internationalis in Rome, Italy as they considered new statutes for the international organization of Catholic charitable agencies, as well as climate change, climate justice, and other business. His new book on Catholic Charities has been accepted for publication and should be released in the fall.
  • New JustSouth Quarterly: In April, 2009, JSRI launched its new JustSouth Quarterly. See "Publications."
  • On April 28, 2009, Dr Alex Mikulich presented “Hurricane Katrina: Racial Privilege and Oppression in Gospel Perspective” to an immersion group from La Salle High School, Union Gap, Washington, at Duchesne House, New Orleans.
  • April 16-18, 2009, Fr. Tom Greene, SJ was a panelist at the Southeastern Council on Latin American Studies (SECOLAS) annual conference, which was held in New Orleans. Tom joined students from Tulane University’s Stone Center for Latin American Studies to discuss their research and findings from a migration journey that he co-led during the summer of 2008. More information and publications from the conference are available at http://www.southalabama.edu/secolas/ 

  • Dr. Alex Mikulich co-facilitated an April 16-19, 2009 training session in San Antonio for Pax Christi USA’s Anti-Racism Team in how to facilitate anti-racism sessions for Pax Christi and other groups. He continues his work on incarceration and racial disparities, presentations to local groups, and writing.
  • On March 24, 2009, The University of Scranton presented its annual Pedro Arrupe, S.J., Award for Distinguished Contributions to Ignatian Mission and Ministries at a University Assembly on March 24, 2009 to Mary Baudouin, assistant for social ministries for the Jesuits of the New Orleans Province, Loyola graduate, co-founder of LUCAP, and part of the staff of the Jesuit Social Research Institute. The Arrupe Award is named in honor of the late Very Rev. Pedro Arrupe, S.J., the Jesuit superior general from 1965 to 1983.
  • Fr. Fred Kammer S.J.New Executive Director: On March 1, 2009, Loyola University New Orleans College of Social Sciences and the Jesuit Social Research Institute is happy to announce Fr. Fred Kammer, S.J., J.D., was appointed as Director of the Jesuit Social Research Institute. Read press release formally announcing Fr. Kammer as JSRI Executive Director »
  • On December 8,2008, Fr. Tom Greene, S.J. gave a presentation entitled, "Migration and Mujeres: The Impact of Migration on Latina Women" at Loyola University's Women's Resource Center.
  • On December 6, 2008, Fr. Tom Greene, S.J. was interviewed by the Community Gumbo radio program. Fr. Greene spoke about undocumented migration and the experience of migrating north through Central America and Mexico with a group of graduate students from Stone Center for Latin American Studies at Tulane University. The faculty and students who made the August migration experience were also interviewed. Read a transcript of the interview »
  • First Forum: On October 1, 2008, the Jesuit Social Research Institute collaborated with the Loyola University President, Fr. Kevin Wildes, S.J., in presenting a Presidential Forum on the 2008 elections. To learn more about this event, please go to JSRI Forums which can be accessed from the In This Section Column.
  • On September 19, 2008, the Jesuit Social Research Institute was awarded a grant from the prestigious Carnegie Corporation of New York to advance social justice in New Orleans and beyond. Click on the above link to read more about the Carnegie Corporation Grant and the association with JSRI.On September 10, 2008, Dr. Alex Mikulich, theologian and Research Fellow on race and poverty was invited to full membership in the Black Catholic Theological Symposium (BCTS). Please click on the hyperlink above to learn more about this phenomenal achievement.