Jill Marie Gerschutz

• Woodstock Project(s): Theology of Migration Project
  

Jill Marie Gerschutz is migration policy director and outreach coordinator for the U.S. Jesuit Conference in Washington, DC. Through more than four years of service in this capacity, Gerschutz has developed networks with secular, other religious, and governmental actors as the nation explores its “right relationship” with immigrants.  In representing the Provincials and the Justice for Immigrants campaign with the aforementioned groups and Jesuit institutions across the United States, Gerschutz has developed extensive expertise in migration and Catholic social thought.  She has presented widely on the moral, ethical, and pragmatic arguments for immigration reform, including at the National Migration Conference 2008 (sponsored by the U.S. Bishops and CLINIC); The Rev. Richard A. McGarrity, S.J., Faith and Culture Lecture at Marquette University; and presentations for the Catholic community of St. Louis, the Sisters of Victory Knoll; the Centre Justice et Foi in Quebec; the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice; and at many Catholic Universities. Her articles on the subject have been published in the Blueprint for Social Justice journal, Epikea, Vivre ensemble and other magazines and journals.  As a liaison to the Jesuit Hispanic Ministry Conference and the Jesuit Migration Service – Central America and North America, Gerschutz also brings an understanding of the challenges and opportunites of migration to the life of the Church.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS AND CONFERENCES

Young Leader, Transatlantic Forum on Migration and Integration (San Antonio, TX: German Marshall Fund, July 2009).

“The Faith that Does Justice,” (Presentation to the Meeting of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, April 24, 2009).

“Catholic Social Teaching and Immigration Reform” (Presentation at US Catholic National Migration Conference, July 29, 2008).

Young Leader, Transatlantic Forum on Migration and Integration (Nuremburg, Germany: German Marshall Fund, July 9-13, 2008).

“Comprehensive Immigration Reform and the Catholic Church.”  Presentation at Voix du Sud, regards du Nord sur les migrations.  Centre Justice et Foi.  Montreal, May 10, 2008.

“Catholic Social Teaching and Immigration Reform,” Ignatian Family Teach-In on Immigration.  Los Angeles, CA.  March, 2008.

“Política EEUU de Migración sobre Migrantes Irregulares: 2005-2007.” International Migration and Development Conference.  Universidad Iberoamericana. Leon, Mexico.  November 13, 2007.  Forthcoming publication.

“Les sans-papiers aux États-unis,” in “Frontières et migrations: Des enjeux de dignité humaine.“ Vivre ensemble vol. 14, no 50, Printemps/Été 2007.

“Comprehensive Immigration Reform and the Catholic Church” (Keynote Lecture at Comprehensive Immigration Reform Forum, Creighton University, February 2, 2006).

“Immigration Reform in the United States” (Presentation at Jesuit Migration Service Annual Meeting, San Salvador, El Salvador, November  2006). 

Catholic Peacebuilding: Justice and Peace in Catholic Social Thought. Master of Arts Thesis.  American University, 2005.  Unpublished. Presented at Ghandi Conference on Nonviolence at Christian Brothers University,  October 2005.

“Transforming Visions into Reality: Implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child.” With Margaret P. Karns, PhD, in Children’s Human Rights: Progress and Challenges for Children, by Mark Ensalaco and Linda C. Majka.  Rowman and Littlefield, 2005.