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The Jesuits

We are the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic order of priests and brothers, founded half a millennium ago by the soldier-turned-mystic Ignatius Loyola. But most people call us the Jesuits.

In the vision of our founder, we seek to "find God in all things." We dedicate ourselves to the "greater glory of God" and the good of all humanity. And we do so gratefully in collaboration with others who share our values, including lay persons. They have become part of the "we," the extended Jesuit family.

Today more than 16,740 Jesuits work in 112 countries in six continents, with the aim of moulding, with God's grace, men and women for others. They see themselves as 'converted sinners' or 'wounded healers' and understand their mission in the world as 'service of faith and promotion of justice.' We are pastors, teachers, and chaplains. We are also doctors, lawyers, and astronomers, among many other roles in Church and society. In our varied ministries, we care for the whole person: body, mind, and soul. And especially in our education ministries, we seek to nurture "men and women for others."

Jesuits draw on the rich tradition of Ignatian spirituality and reflection. In our retreat centers, parishes, campus ministries, and other settings, we offer these resources to all who want to discern God's presence in their lives. At the same time, we also aim to be "contemplatives in action," people who bring this spirituality into the wide world. That includes our work on behalf of global justice, peace, and dialogue.

For easy administration Jesuits worldwide are divided into regions or what they call Assistancies. India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan come under the South Asian Assistancy, currently the largest in the world, with nearly 21 per cent of the world's Jesuits working here. It is led by the Provincial of South Asia or POSA, who has his office in New Delhi. Fr George Pattery, SJ is the present POSA.