Pope Francis, perhaps more than any other pope, introduced a new lexicon for Catholics and the larger church. From “missionary disciples” to “synodality” to “field hospital,” Pope Francis spoke in fresh ways that made the Gospel come alive for those who recognized faith as a life to be lived. Among the many and lively ideas he brought forth, perhaps none was more impactful than his emphasis on “encuentro” or “encounter.”
“Encounter” or “encuentro” are certainly not unfamiliar words, but spoken by a South American Jesuit they mean something quite specific and powerful. It is a critical ingredient of the church’s life and any human life well-lived.
Here is the context:
Imagine the life of a young person raised in a community of affection and care that provides the kind of nurture and support needed for a full human life. The young person is loved by parents, neighbors, teachers and a church community. Imagine in this community that there is plenty to eat, available healthcare, engaging schools, and no active wars. The consequence is that most people growing up in this place have what they need to become healthy, fully actualized adults.
Then, something counter-intuitive happens, or at least can happen, if it is permitted, encouraged and nourished. On any given day, any one of the adults in this inviting place can be prompted to move out of the comfort of the familiar and safe. There is some kind of tug—we might call it the Holy Spirit—that drives us away from the home base and into a new space, one that is unfamiliar but beckons nevertheless.
There is something about us that is drawn by love into the places and lives of those who have been somehow abandoned or unacknowledged. For many, this tug can be described as “the option for the poor and vulnerable.” We instinctively recognize that we belong to them and they belong to us, the consequence of which is that it prompts a longing for connection. This, in turn, initiates and requires a geographical displacement: we opt to be where they are.
And so it is that the encounter or encuentro begins. But that’s just the beginning.
The power of encounter is its impact.
Since 1956, Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) has been inviting young people to spend a year or two after graduation from college to work in underserved communities, domestically or internationally. Over 12,000 young folks have participated. Many—probably all—of them remember their experience vividly.
Here’s how the story often goes: Joe Smith goes to Georgetown University intending to be a hotshot (and well paid) lawyer. After he completes his undergraduate degree, he decides he would like to take a year off from academia and decides to spend a year with JVC, thinking it would look good on his resumé. He ends up working with children in an underserved community in New York.
And, after a year, he is changed by the experience.
What changed him?
A constellation of things, really: the beauty of the children, the harshness of their neighborhoods, the injustice that flavors the entire reality, the experience of connection, the satisfaction of fulfilling a felt duty and responsibility, and so on. Joe experiences compassion and solidarity. In all of it, he senses something sacred.
And, suddenly or gradually, Joe looks at the life he thought he would live—big houses and fancy cars and high-powered importance—and it all looks pretty lame. So, Joe does indeed go to Law School after his year of service but ends up spending his life working and advocating for the vulnerable and oppressed.
JVs (graduates of the program) refer to this as having been “ruined for life,” comparing—perhaps with a wry smile—the glamorous or comfortable life they might have lived with one that has forever compelled them to stay in relationship with those who have been exploited or abandoned. And, of course, they would have it no other way.
The staying power of encuentro in a life of faith and love is that the connections are everything. Nothing will satisfy the human heart like the experience of embracing wide. Nothing fills us up like the ferocity of a love that insists that each and every one of us is important and has a claim on each other’s loyalties and attention. This is what compelled Jesus. This is what compels our faith tradition. This is what makes for a life richly lived.
Encuentro de Esperanza: Encountering Hope
JustFaith Ministries is launching a new program in 2025 – Encuentro de Esperanza: Encountering Hope. This JustFaith program invites your small group to immerse yourselves in the foundational teachings of your Christian faith and discern how it calls you to transform your life and our world. Along the way, the program materials highlight the unique and diverse gifts that Spanish-speaking communities bring to the Church, celebrating a few of the many teachings, traditions, and faith leaders that help all of us to see God a little more clearly.
Encuentro y Esperanza includes eight sessions and an encuentro, or encounter, in the local community. Each session explores a key Christian principle based on seven themes of social teaching. Opportunities to include your own denomination’s specific teachings regarding the week’s topic are provided each session, with specific options provided from Roman Catholic, UMC, PCUSA, ELCA, UCC, and Episcopal traditions. Sessions include an interactive Scripture study, a celebration of a tradition from a Spanish-speaking community or witness for faith-rooted justice, and a guided discernment of action steps based on the day’s learnings. Throughout each week, participants will engage in reflections and spiritual practices around the upcoming session’s theme.
Want to learn more? Fill out our interest form to be notified of upcoming events and program updates.