Jesuits' Path to True Reconciliation

DTRF is a partnership between the Descendants of Jesuit slaveholding and the Society of Jesus, which was one of the largest slaveholding institutions in America. As an organization focused on reconciliation, this partnership is at the core of everything we do. By deeply examining the past, accepting the truth, and moving forward with a moral response, the goal is to grow in unity toward a better world. In this video, Fr. Tim Kesicki, SJ, the Chair of the Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Trust, shares his thoughts on why the work toward reconciliation is critically important for Jesuits to engage in.

“This is a moral response, not a legal response,” Fr. Tim explains. He continues, “It’s a moral response that we hope would drive other organizations, and that’s a hard thing when … we grapple with the pain of the past, because there are many who say, ‘What’s it going to take for this to go away?’ And I say, ‘What's it gonna take for this truth to come out?’” 

Fr. Tim speaks to the significance of true reconciliation — why it matters and why it must be at the heart of the work he does daily. Acknowledging the past, ensuring it is not forgotten, and using it as the Foundation for meaningful change is essential.