Kevin Kelly,SJ is a Jesuit scholastic doing First Studies in Toronto
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The Jesuit Forum for Social Faith and Justice was established in 2007 to support education and engagement on a variety of social and ecological justice related issues. The Forum focuses on small group discussion and emphasizes listening and developing trust in others as the way to connect, understand and become active in confronting injustices....
When I arrived in Nairobi at the end of December, I came with many different images of Africa and ideas of what my short time here would hold...
Matatus are privately owned minibuses that serve as the major form of public transportation in Nairobi. The name is a Swahili colloquialism based on the word tatu meaning "three". One explanation is that the name is derived from the original pick-up trucks that were fitted with three rows of wooden benches and a canvas roof. Another is that the original minibuses cost three pennies to ride. The conductor would call out "mapenny matutu" (translated as "three pennies" in Kiswahili) which was then shortened to matatu over time. Whatever the origins of the name, the drive is always an adventure. I have never felt closer to God then when I am experiencing life in a matatu....
This has been an exciting time to be in Kenya. Since my arrival in Nairobi over 2 months ago, there has been little else discussed other than the election run-up and recent results in the country's media or during work-time coffee breaks (or rather tea breaks as it were – Kenya was British Colony after all!!). Even the resignation of Pope Benedict and the election of Pope Francis caused only brief departures from the intense interest and media coverage....
Novices in the English Canada Province of the Society of Jesus have the opportunity to experience cultures different than their own, oftentimes those outside of Canada, during what is referred to as the novitiate "Long Experiment". The Long Experiment is a 4-5 month assignment that is completed in our second year. It is a critical step in each Jesuit's formation....
