JRS International

The Jesuit Refugee Service is an international Catholic organisation set up in 1980 by Fr. Pedro Arrupé SJ, then Father General of the Society of Jesus, as a spiritual and practical response to the plight of refugees at that time. Its mission is to accompany, to serve and to plead the cause of refugees and forcibly displaced people. JRS is now working in over 50 countries worldwide where there are over 20 million refugees worldwide and a further 25 million displaced within their own countries.

Working wherever the needs of displaced people are urgent and unattended by others, JRS offers a human and pastoral service to refugees and the communities who host them through a wide range of rehabilitation and relief activities. Services – pastoral care, education for children and adults, social services, counselling, and health care – are tailored to meet local needs according to available resources.

JRS is grounded in Catholic social teaching and draws on the principles of Ignatian spirituality in discerning with whom we work. All members share a common set of values and principles concerned with justice, the dignity of the person and a responsibility to carry out the social mission of the Church.

For more information about JRS internationally go to www.jrs.net.