 The newly-appointed director of Jesuit Refugee Service Australia, Sacha Bermudez-Goldman SJ, says he is looking forward to meeting the evolving needs of asylum seekers within Australia. In August he will take over from the current director, David Holdcroft SJ, who is headed for New England where he will undertake his tertianship. Sacha describes his appointment as a 'welcome surprise'. He is already familiar with this field of work, having worked as a volunteer with asylum seeker and refugee organisations in Sydney and Melbourne. He was also chaplain at the Maribyrnong Detention Centre in Melbourne for a year. He is privileged, he says, to have met and accompanied some extraordinary men and women through these experiences, and hopes this new role will allow him to continue support and advocate for people still seeking asylum. 'The circumstances and needs of asylum seekers and refugees, not only in Australia but also all over the world, are always evolving and changing, as it is the way people perceive those needs', says Sacha. 'There is a lot that I need to learn in order to carry out this new role, but I look forward to the challenge. I feel that this is true for many people as well. We all need to learn and understand more about the circumstances and causes behind the plight of asylum seekers and refugees, so that together we can help alleviate this ever increasing crisis. And the earlier we start learning, the better!'
The newly-appointed director of Jesuit Refugee Service Australia, Sacha Bermudez-Goldman SJ, says he is looking forward to meeting the evolving needs of asylum seekers within Australia. In August he will take over from the current director, David Holdcroft SJ, who is headed for New England where he will undertake his tertianship. Sacha describes his appointment as a 'welcome surprise'. He is already familiar with this field of work, having worked as a volunteer with asylum seeker and refugee organisations in Sydney and Melbourne. He was also chaplain at the Maribyrnong Detention Centre in Melbourne for a year. He is privileged, he says, to have met and accompanied some extraordinary men and women through these experiences, and hopes this new role will allow him to continue support and advocate for people still seeking asylum. 'The circumstances and needs of asylum seekers and refugees, not only in Australia but also all over the world, are always evolving and changing, as it is the way people perceive those needs', says Sacha. 'There is a lot that I need to learn in order to carry out this new role, but I look forward to the challenge. I feel that this is true for many people as well. We all need to learn and understand more about the circumstances and causes behind the plight of asylum seekers and refugees, so that together we can help alleviate this ever increasing crisis. And the earlier we start learning, the better!' Since his ordination last year, Sacha has worked with young adults at MAGiS, the Ignatian young adult ministry. Through his new role at JRS, he's hoping to expose more young MAGiS participants to the work of the organisation. 'Some of the young people I know are already tutoring children of asylum seekers, have been part of the annual JRS ball and have actively advocated for the rights of refugees. These young people have a great sense of social justice, are incredibly talented, energetic and enthusiastic, and have deep compassion for those in need. They are truly inspiring young people.' Originally from Nicaragua, Sacha moved to the United States for his secondary schooling and university studies. He did a Masters in Engineering in Texas, after which he worked as an engineer. He then joined an American missionary society and served as a lay missionary teacher for seven years in Tanzania (East Africa) and Cambodia. He the Society of Jesus in February 1999, and was ordained to the priesthood in June 2007.
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