Foreign Missions of the New Orleans Province

In keeping with Jesus' mandate to "Go forth and teach all nations," the Society of Jesus supports many forms of ministry around the world and is the largest missionary order of the Church. The New Orleans Province has missionaries working to bring Christ's message to the people of Brazil, El Salvador, Paraguay, Russia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

In Brazil, New Orleans Province Jesuits are involved in parishes, agricultural and technical schools, spiritual direction, leading individuals and groups in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, evangelization and education over TV and satellite, and the formation of Brazilian Jesuit Brothers and Priests. An example of the impact these Jesuits are making in Brazil can be seen in one of the longest-standing ministries established there: Centro Social Presidente Kennedy founded in 1965 by Fr. Harold Rahm, S.J.

In El Salvador and Paraguay, Jesuits are based in local parishes but minister over a widespread area. For example, the Jesuits in one parish in Paraguay travel to twenty-four villages to offer Mass for the people during the course of a month. The emphasis here is to form basic Christian communities and animadores (animators or leaders) who will maintain the vitality and be responsible for these communities. The Santa Rosa Mission in Paraguay and the Parish of San Bartolome in El Salvador are good examples of the ministry in these countries.

Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Christianity is on the rebound in Russia. Many of the largest, though extremely sparsely populated, dioceses of the world are found in Russia, especially in Siberia. Jesuit presence and ministry there are aiding in the rediscovery of the deep-rooted Christian traditions embedded in the Russian people and their culture. Local vocations of seminarians, sisters, and lay catechists are beginning to re-emerge, but it is primarily up to missionaries from outside of Russia to help in the formation of these men and women as well as to provide for the spiritual needs of the growing Catholic laity. Read an interview with Fr. Anthony Corcoran, S.J. about his work in the Diocese of the Transfiguration, Novosibirsk, Russia.

In Zambia, Jesuits teach in the Kasisi Agricultural Training Center helping the people improve the productivity of their land and the efficiency of their farming efforts. Another Jesuit is the country's director of the Jesuit Refugee Service who is instrumental in proposing and setting policy for this organization. A Jesuit priest, who is also a medical doctor, is on the staff of one of the local hospitals. Read an interview with Fr. Ken Johnson, S.J., M.D. about his work in the Choma General Hospital.

In Zimbabwe, Jesuits of the New Orleans Province assist in fostering local vocations by teaching and training Jesuit and other religious and diocesan seminarians who are in formation at Arrupe College located in Mt. Pleasant.