We should begin our reflections by acknowledging what has been achieved to date. Only a few examples: the soup kitchen in Stockport which reaches out to those on the edge of our society. It has become a collaborative venture with other Christian Churches, a witnessing together. There are plans to improve the facilities for this. The Walled Garden in Smithstone has been taken over as a garden centre, providing work for the disabled. For a number of years the parish in Bourtreehill has run a charity shop, and Dehon House has a bursary for young people whose families cannot afford the fees. Recently Ardlea tried to set up a project for social housing behind the church.

Our Dehonian Rule sets out goals (Const 50 ff):

"More than ever we become conscious of the wretchedness of so many today, we can hear the cry of the poor ... a constant plea for conversion of mentality and attitude, and to stand alongside the poor and needy, especially those in greatest need. We will strive to avoid social injustice. As disciples of Fr Dehon, who was always anxious to associate himself with the people of his time, especially the poorest, those without means, without purposes in life, without hope ..."

We read in the document, 'We, the Congregation in service to the Mission: 1997 - 2003 (p 11-12):

"Give support to personal undertakings in the provinces after having made an internal discernment to check out their prophetic nature; collaborate with undertakings of other organisms whether or not they are church-related. Sustain in each province some specifically social project (for/with/as poor)."

Proposals:

1) Already some communities have initiated certain projects, which are to be encouraged and, where necessary, sustained in collaboration with others. If there is a weakness in the good being done by these works, could it be that we may need to rub shoulders with the poor people being served? For such a close connection can enable us to experience evangelization in reverse from the poor, so that we begin to question our own lifestyle, which in turn can lead to and return to a rediscovery of more authentic Gospel values in our own daily lives.

2) Are there ways during the Church's Year of Jubilee that we individually, and as communities, can come much closer to the poor, and learn from them in these ways?

3) Can we encourage one another (or at least provide the opportunity) to spend one week* working in some project, e.g. down and outs, Aids hostel, or in some especially deprived area, as a positive step towards the poor, and as a new step in our personal journey of following Christ, and as a new and further step to openness to the Spirit?

4) Are there other ways we might do this, but seeking to make contact with those on the fringes of society?

5) Are there ways of entering into collaboration:

• with other SCJs?
• with other religious orders?