CRISPAZ receives Arrupe Award

Christians for Peace in El Salvador (CRISPAZ) was awarded The University of Scranton's Pedro Arrupe Award for Distinguished Contributions to Ignatian Mission and Ministry.

The Arrupe Award is named in honor of the late Very Reverend Pedro Arrupe, superior general of the Society of Jesus from 1965 to 1983. The University of Scranton instituted this award in 1995 to further Father Arrupe’s vision by recognizing men and women for outstanding contributions in a wide variety of Ignatian-inspired ministries.

Father Arrupe was superior general of the Jesuits during the height of political violence and government repression in El Salvador, a period during which thousands of civilians were murdered by rightwing death squads, including Father Rutilio Grande, Archbishop Oscar Romero, democratic activist Enrique Alvarez, and four US churchwomen.

For the last thirty years, CRISPAZ has helped those of us in the United States and around the world learn more about the conditions in El Salvador through highly transformative faith-based delegation experiences. Here is part of today's citation:

Each year, CRISPAZ hosts dozens of delegations who live in the homes of the rural poor and meet with families who have lost loved ones to violence and migration. Beyond unforgettable stories of suffering, visits organized by the dedicated women and men of CRISPAZ foster an even more profound encounter with a people whose faith cannot be diminished, whose perseverance and love will never waiver, and whose friendship has become an invaluable part of our lives.

Through its model of mutual accompaniment, CRISPAZ delegations are asked a simple task upon returning home: take what you have learned from the Salvadoran poor and build solidarity between the poor and marginalized in your own communities. CRISPAZ challenges us today, just as Archbishop Romero did so many years ago, to be a voice for change in systems that continually marginalize the poor and to work for the rights of migrants, refugees, and all who suffer injustice.

Ignacio Ellacuria, S.J., the martyred UCA rector, stated it directly: “Do everything possible so that liberty is victorious over oppression, justice over injustice, love over hate.” For over thirty years CRISPAZ has helped our community answer that call, and we are blessed to recognize their contributions to the ongoing mission of this University.

It is, therefore, with deep gratitude and great pride that The University of Scranton bestows upon CRISPAZ the Pedro Arrupe, S.J., Award for 2017.

I was fortunate to have traveled to El Salvador on a CRISPAZ delegation in 2008. Even though I had already spent over a year in the country at different points in time, I learned a great deal from the experience. I would highly recommend traveling to El Salvador on a short-term immersion trip with CRISPAZ.

Solidarity with our brothers and sisters in El Salvador is as important as ever.