The American Catholic order made a grand gesture in the continuing efforts to atone for slavery by pledging $100 million to benefit the descendants of the enslaved people it once owned.

In a report from the New York Times, the money raised by the Jesuits will flow into a new foundation, the Descendants Truth and Reconciliation Foundation, which was established in partnership with a group representing the descendants of 272 slaves the order sold to a Louisiana plantation in 1838 to save Georgetown College.

So far the organization has contributed $15 million and plan to raise the other $85 million over the next five years.

Some feel that this is not enough after original calls for $1 billion. Joseph M. Stewart, the acting president of the newly created foundation, said that remained a long-term goal as the organization moves to support institutions and initiatives focused on racial healing.

Many hope that this will open the door for other sectors of the faith and the country will take notice, according to Suzan Johnson Cook, U.S. ambassador of Religious Freedom.

“Slavery and sexism are deeply ingrained, the Jesuits are very very socially injustice oriented and have been active in terms of race and we have certainly many Black preists,” said Cook. “There has always been a disparity in terms of treatment, in terms of assignment, in terms of ownership. People were enslaved against their will, so Jesuits have always been those who do what is right  justly walk humbly before God and do what is right before the eyes of God.”