To the WUJA Congress 2017 Attendees:

On behalf of the planning committee for the upcoming WUJA Congress, I’d like to offer you an early welcome.   My prayer today is that this event will exceed your expectations. 

Over the next few days, and as you prepare for your journey to Cleveland, I ask you to join me in praying for each other that we will have safe journeys; for the Congress presenters as they prepare the words they will be sharing with us; for all those who will be working at the Congress to ensure its success; for those who have donated money in support of this gathering;  for the health and well-being of those who will not be joining us; and so many others who have worked behind the scenes over the past four years to ensure a meaningful experience for us all.

I also ask that you think about the stories you want to share with others at the Congress.   We all enjoy a special connection with the Jesuits, as teachers, retreat directors, pastors, mission leaders, and as friends.   The stories that we share with each other at the Congress will help bridge the long distances between our homes and reinforce our awareness of being of the same family of God.

We have asked some of our presenters to prepare a few questions for you to think about over the next few days.   If you have time, feel free to jot down some notes in response to these questions below and come prepared to discuss your thoughts in the reflection sessions.

Also, as some of you may be aware, the Jesuit Networking Project has launched a global survey to understand attitudes and behaviors regarding Jesuit Networking and Collaboration. The idea is to reach out to Jesuits, collaborators and the wider community of Jesuit friends and alumni, for a better understanding of the meaning and possibilities of collaboration globally.  Results of this survey will be shared by two of our speakers next week, Fr. Dani Villanueva, SJ and Dr. Tina Facca-Miess.   If you would like to complete the survey to add your thoughts to conversation please go to the following website: http://jesuitnetworking.org/survey-on-collaboration-and-networking/ .

Finally, please remember the exciting opportunity we have to attend the world premiere of the Emergent Universe Oratoria, as performed by Cleveland's BlueWater Chamber Orchestra and the Cleveland Chamber Choir.   Free tickets have been made available, on a first come first served basis.  To reserve your ticket, please email:  admin@wujacongress2017.org

Again, I look forward to meeting each of you next week in Cleveland.  God bless you all.

Frank Brady

Conference Committee Chair

AMDG

Questions for the Business track sessions:

• Will our children and our globe survive and thrive in the next century?
• How do unethical business activities, such as bribery, hurt the ordinary person?  What can we do about it?
• How can we help equip very poor people to provide for their own income and lives?
• How is it possible for Jesuit alumni/ae to aid each other after WUJA ’17?

Questions for the Health and Science panel discussion:

• How did your Jesuit education influence your present practice/career path?
• Thinking about a healing passage from the New Testament:
• Which passage did you pick and why?
• Who where you in that passage?
• What did you feel?
• How do you examen your day after a busy day in the office/class/rotation?
• How do you care for the poor and uninsured?

Questions for the Legal sessions:

• What constitutes “justice” in social justice?
• What does the Church teach about “justice”?
• What is the unique identity of a Jesuit law school?
• What should be the unique identity of a Jesuit law school?
• What are the core ethical standards that attorneys should have in their legal work?
• What are the core ethical standards that a law firm, legal department, or legal organization should have in their operations?
• How does the death penalty affect us morally?