As we look across the globe, we are continually reminded of the things that divide us and the power that can be wielded by individuals to enlarge the chasm between peoples because of ethnicity, religion, or wealth. We are called to be bridge builders in this divided world.
Speaking from the standpoint of Australia, Jesuit Priest Fr. Frank Brennan recently reflected on the challenge of living vowed life in this complex reality:
The complexity of the problems we face, and the richness of the opportunities offered demand that we build bridges between rich and poor, establishing advocacy links of mutual support between those who hold political power and those who find it difficult to voice their interests. Our intellectual apostolate provides an inestimable help in constructing these bridges, offering us new ways of understanding in depth the mechanisms and links among our present problems.
As I have said so often to church social justice groups: make sure you are eyeballing both the decision makers and the marginalised persons affected by their decisions. At least it will stop you from becoming sanctimonious.
It is easy for us Jesuits to retire into ourselves, looking after ourselves and seeing the world only through Jesuit eyes. Only recently my spiritual director brought to my attention a wonderful reflection on our religious vows from John Courtney Murray way back in 1947:
By taking vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, we risk irresponsibility, childish immaturity and purposelessness. We avoid the risks by keeping them integrally. Truly poor equals responsible; integrally chaste equals mature; absolutely obedient equals enterprisin and purposeful. 1
1 Frank Brennan SJ, Homily on the Second Sunday Ordinary Time, 23rd February 2025, YouTube (Live)
Mary McInerney has been an Australian RNDM for more than sixty years with experience of mission in education in Australia, member of General Council for twelve years and mission in Kenya. Now living in Melbourne, she is involved in archival work for the Province and has enjoyed opportunities to share her RNDM experience and knowledge of our Constitutions through various on-line programmes.
I find the call to being a bridge-builder both attractive and challenging. When I look at my life I recognize multiple opportunities to build bridges with those made poor by our current systems, and “establishing advocacy links of mutual support between those who hold … power and those who find it difficult to voice their interests.”
As Margaret Wheatley says, the answer to everything is community. Such community involves building multiple bridges.