Join Jesuit Refugee Service and the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network in Praying for Child Soldiers
To mark the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers on February 12, Jesuit Refugee Service and Entreculturas, a social outreach program of the Spanish Jesuits, joined Pope Francis to pray and mobilize for the end of the use of child soldiers, in collaboration with the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network.
More than 230 million children around the world live in areas affected by armed conflict. Although there is no accurate data on the total number of child soldiers, it is estimated that there are around 250,000. Child soldiers — some as young as 6 years old — are forced to fight and kill. They are also compelled to participate in espionage, support armed groups as informants, and engage in illicit activities such as drug production.
Prayer and supporting JRS and Entreculturas programs can help ensure that children do not spend their childhood on a battlefield. People are also encouraged to support Pope Francis' initiative by signing the related petition.
Below is The Pope's Video — a worldwide call to turn prayer into "concrete gestures" — from December 2016, in which the pope prays that the scandal of child soldiers may be eliminated.
June 21, 2017 — Today is the feast day of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, an Italian Jesuit known for his courage in serving the sick and his dedication to the education of young students.
June 21, 2017 — St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, is hiring a new president to succeed Fr. Timothy Howe, SJ. The new president will begin July 1, 2018, and will serve as St. X's chief executive officer.
June 20, 2017 — On the day Fr. Wally Stohrer, SJ, was ordained a priest, the renowned theologian Fr. Karl Rahner, SJ, told him, “Now you must decide every day for the rest of your life what kind of priest you are going to be.”
June 16, 2017 — Today is the feast day of St. John Francis Regis, a 17th-century French Jesuit known for his zealous missionary efforts and his care for the poor and marginalized.
June 8, 2017 — The Communications Office of the USA Midwest Province of the Society of Jesus is seeking a communications specialist to produce, edit, and curate print and electronic content; manage projects and new outreach initiatives; and oversee social media channels.
