A Workbook on Effective Collaboration: Learnings from the Ecojesuit Network

In trying to understand the role of Ecojesuit in the face of the broad ecological movement, it is a challenge to define a path forward for the coming decade as each institution has its own agenda of how to proceed and what it aims to achieve. But the process of change calls for listening to others, and as we seek to understand the Lord’s mission, we are called to join and collaborate.

In seeking to go deeper and discuss ways forward, we are challenged to: (1) share stories from the ground that include personal and group narratives, struggles, hopes, and relations of care and solidarity, (2) provide communication and collaboration platforms for youth, marginal communities and Indigenous Peoples at the Province and Conference level, and (3) link ecological activities, from the Conference and the local, to the global.

A Workbook on Effective Collaboration: Learnings from the Ecojesuit Network is shared with the Ecojesuit community to enable Ecoteams in each Conference to grow and strengthen the process of greater collaboration. It is not intended to be comprehensive but is a humble sharing of the pathway, as well as some of the challenges and aspirations.

 Section 1 reviews the network in terms of our discerned objectives guided by the Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAPs). We celebrate our victories over the past year and challenge ourselves to go beyond.

Section 2 highlights lessons learnt and offers points of reflection and action in moving forward.

Section 3 talks of the process underwent by the Ecojesuit team during the 2019 Annual Meeting in Mumbai.

Section 4 shares valuable insight from Jesuit Conference of South Asia (JCSA) President George Pattery SJ, Ecojesuit Coordinator for South Asia, Lumnesh Swaroop Kumar SJ, and the story of a tribal community in Gujarat that uses herbal medicine to sustain the land and livelihood of the people. All of these were part of the unique context of South Asia experienced by the Ecojesuit team during the Annual Meeting.

Section 5 tells the stories of two Adivasi communities in the urban context, the challenges they face and their hopes for the future. These narratives come from conversations with Archbishop Felix Toppo of Ranchi and Bishop Vincent Aind of Bagdogra.

Section 6 shares five lessons from the experience in South Asia and leaves us with an image of hope and energy in giving life to the network.

A Workbook on Effective Collaboration: Learnings from the Ecojesuit Network is publicly accessible and we invite you to read and find meaningful use of this document in your work and ministries. We just request that Ecojesuit be acknowledged when the workbook is used. Thank you.