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- EIN 33-0825200
- 2131 Drew Ave Turlock CA 95382-1709 USA
- http://westcoastcompanions.org
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Nonprofit Overview
Causes: Civil Rights, Religion, Roman Catholic
Mission: The WCCI was formed in 1998 to provide a formal structure for the ongoing activities of "former Jesuits" who had maintained contact over the years since the mid-1970s. During that 25 year period over 1,000 former members of the Society of Jesus (primarily from the California and Oregon Provinces) were located and placed into a communications database. Through an annual retreat and cooperation in a variety of programs to serve the poor and disenfranchised, the "Companions" have provided mutual support to one another as well as assistance to the Society of Jesus in alleviating poverty, providing education in social justice issues to the youth of Jesuit schools across the country, and promoting human and civil rights.
Programs: The Ignatian Family Teach In invites students from Jesuit Universities, Colleges and High Schools from across the U.S. to be made aware of social justice issues in countries to the south of the United States and the impact of U.S. Foreign Policy on the poor and disenfranchised of these countries. The instruction takes place annually in Columbus, GA, during November (1500 plus attended in 2002). Current annual budget: $30,000.The Rutilio Grande SJ Construction Project in Paisnal, a rural village in El Salvidor, is an attempt to provide Fr. Orlando Erazo pastor for more than 30,000 parishioners in the area with a community center at which parish members can better their poverty stricken lives.Other projects for the street children of Xalapa, Veracruz, and the survivors of the Acteal massacre in Mexico.A cyberjournal of religion and culture called "Just Good Company" has been established and efforts to continue its publication are ongoing. Go to: http://justgoodcompany.orgWorking jointly with the Society of Jesus to support the work of the Loyola Institute for Spirituality (LIS) in the giving of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises; and the work of the Pacific Institute for Community Organization (PICO) to improve the quality of life of families and neighborhoods across America.Assisting St Martin de Porres School in West Oakland with their ongoing efforts to provide quality Catholic educations to inner city families.