On December 17 and 18 of last year (2007), the JPIC of USG/UISG held a strategic planning workshop, facilitated by the Institute of Cultural Affairs from Brussels. I was not a part of it, but the whole process and the product of  that seminar-workshop was later, in the early part of 2008, i.e., in the January and some subsequent meetings, reported to  and discussed in the JPIC Promoters’ group.

The output of the seminar-workshop included a “Vision” (I place it in quotation marks because it is more of an objective to be achieved in a three-year period, i.e., a Terminal Performance Objective in the language of Organizational development, rather than a “Vision”).  The defined “Vision” was: Promoting Effective networking for JPIC.  This was the response that emerged with the most frequency to the focus question: What do you want the JPIC Commission to have in place in three years?  To quote the report:

“Many interesting suggestions emerged here: the need to network on what is already being done in congregations; linking and networking with other JPIC groups – both in the Church and amongst NGO’s, was seen as very important, and the centrality of the role of the Congregational JPIC promoters in this task was emphasized.  The JPIC Commission was seen to have a specific role – it should act as hub providing networking information and resources.  The huge potential of religious worldwide for such networking was recognized….”

In the “Visioning” workshop, the second most popular theme  was “the integration of adequate JPIC formation at different levels.”  For those engaged in JPIC animation in their Congregations, this is something that, when achieved, would give them some acceptability and legitimacy, and would make the playing field level for everybody; at least, we would be talking the same language and mean the same thing. It is not that they (Congregational JPIC promoters) are not accepted, nor  their work considered “illegitimate”; it is just that at times many religious are afraid to talk and participate on JPIC issues, leaving it to people who are more of the “activist” type, people who easily react to issues on injustice and exploitation, human dignity and rights, hunger, war, etc.  Yet, aren’t we all supposed to react on these?  Confreres talk about love and compassion, and seem to be able to connect our charism with what is actually going in the world (poverty, pain, hunger, high cost of medicines, war, genocide, trafficking of women and children, unjust structures, environmental issues, militarization, dislocation and dispossession of peoples, etc.), but unfortunately can’t seem to go beyond moralizing and lecturing, … can’t seem to get out of the four walls of their rooms or convents, nor able to get down from their high chairs of theologies and ideologies.  I do not want to sound judgmental here; the last thing I want is to be called judgmental since I am supposed to be an animator for JPIC; thus,  I am supposed to animate, not alienate.  Moreover, this point should ring a bell for all of us.  In the last General Chapter, some of the recommendations were formation in JPIC in our formation programs (cf. # 2, Formation, For the Provincial and Local Administrations, 4th bullet) and the conscientization of our members in JPIC issues (cf. # 5, Prophetic Witness in the Face of Contemporary Challenges to Mission, For the Provincial and Local Administrations, 4th bullet).  How are we, so far, doing on these?

I would like to thank Bro. Warren Perrotto, JPIC Coordinator of the US Province, for sharing with me his paper on “An End to Torture”.  Let me quote his first lines: “Torture violates the basic dignity of the human person that all religions, in their highest ideals, hold dear.  It degrades everyone involved – policymakers, perpetrators and victims”.  I can only agree with him.

Thank you, too, to Fr. Ben Verberne, Provincial Superior of the Dutch Province, for having translated the previous article to the Dutch language, and for sharing this with our Dutch and Belgian confreres.  Articles in our website are translated into only French and Spanish if the original article is in English.

I welcome reactions to my articles.  However, I will be more happy if you send me some JPIC concerns in your areas.  We can share these concerns in a more international level.  In this way, we can be aware of what is happening in your place.  I think this more important (your sharing) than my article.  Honestly, I think the JPIC Desk in the Generalate level should be made more alive, interactive and participative, and consciousness-raising through your sharing of concerns and experiences.  I also believe that the Provinces should not wait for any program from the General Administration on JPIC.  The action is in your places; the concerns are in your situations of life and work.  We here in the Desk (JPIC) are more to coordinate, and, perhaps, disseminate these concerns to our confreres and readers worldwide.  What we learn from our JPIC Promoters’ meetings here in Rome usually just end up within ourselves, i.e., they become mere additional knowledge for us; at most, they might be shared with you as information data.  Regional JPIC meetings need not even be spearheaded by the JPIC Desk of the General Administration.  All our Provinces have JPIC promoters, and each Province has its own JPIC concerns.  It would be good to have these regional groupings (PEC, CA-MSC, and APIA, plus UAF-SA) come together to share these problems and concerns related to JPIC, and share some action points if not solutions.

The issues discussed and shared in the latest JPIC Promoters’ meetings are on Fair Trade and Economic Justice, Food (and the issue on Hunger), and Human Trafficking.

The conclusion of the Islamic-Catholic Liaison Committee meeting, which had “Christians and Muslims as Witnesses of the God of Justice, of Peace and of Compassion in a World Suffering from Violence” as their theme, affirms that the fundamental rights and duties of the person stem from his inherent dignity as a human being.  They stated: “Justice is a priority in our world.  It requires, beyond the implementation of the existing legal provisions, the respect of the fundamental needs of individuals and peoples through an attitude of love, fraternity and solidarity.  There can be no true and lasting peace without justice.

“Peace is a gift from God and also requires the commitment of all human beings, and particularly believers, who are called to be vigilant witnesses to peace in a world afflicted by violence in many forms.

“Christians and Muslims believe that God is compassionate and therefore they consider it their duty to show compassion towards every human person, especially the needy and the weak.”

The group was received in audience by Pope Benedict XVI, and he “encouraged them to continue their endeavors for the promotion of justice and peace.” (Zenit News, June 16, 2008)

Father Narciso Abellana MSC
Rome, Italy