In the year 2000, the Jesuits of the Oregon Province signed a far reaching agreement with the Jesuits of Colombia. The Colombia and Oregon Twinning Agreement, renegotiated every four years, most recently by Fr. Pat Lee of Oregon and Fr. Francisco de Roux of Colombia, is a landmark in the history of Jesuit province Twinning Agreements. Rather than being a twinning agreement that facilitates an exchange of financial and human resources, this agreement focuses on a true mutual exchange of experience and culture between two provinces of two countries too often linked by power and violence.
The Oregon/Colombia Twinning Agreement not only connects both provinces to the international perspectives called for by the Society — but the Twinning Agreement is a process that will reshape how each province educates Jesuits in formation and how institutions in both countries plan future apostolic initiatives. The Twinning Agreement serves as a way to facilitate shared formation of both Jesuits and lay partners through cultural and academic exchanges as well and intensive language programs.
