Some updates on Vossenack:

¯      All delegates should have made contact with the JPIC office by now about their participation.

¯      Anyone needing a visa should send the relevant information to the office immediately in order to receive an official letter of invitation.( name, passport number, date of birth and address)

 

 

¯      West Papua/ Irian Jaya: Theo and Budi report that developments are moving rapidly and they have had some tense weeks. The Papuan People have made it very clear to the government their desire to be free and "out of the Republic of Indonesia". Jakarta's reaction is aggressive and there is very little understanding for this option.

 

¯      Philippines: Friar Rolly Abas reported that the Regional Convention of the FMJPIC Visayas Commission in the Philippines took place on July 16, 2000. The theme of the meeting was: "Franciscan Family: Living out the Biblical Jubilee Imperatives."   It was a very enriching activity for all of the 25 delegates coming from the different Franciscan families in the Visayas region.  Reu was not able to attend the assembly due to some urgent call for a fact finding mission in Mindanao.  The national convention will take place September 15-20, 2000 in Cebu City. 

¯      EAC Conference meeting: The meeting took place in Queson City, Philippines, 9-13 of June. All the entities of the Conference were represented: Korea, Japan (2), Hong Kong, Vietnam and the Philippines. Due to passport difficulties an additional brother from Korea was unable to attend. It was the first meeting of the Commission for over ten years. The Conference President, Bro. Oscar Ante, in his opening address, recognized JPIC as a constitutive part of the Franciscan mission. He explained the decision why Provincials assumed responsibility for the animation of JPIC at a Conference level. Due to the unworkable nature of the arrangement and the need for Ògrass rootsÓ representation, they revised this decision in July 1999 meeting. He encouraged the delegates to assume their role of animation of the OrderÕs priorities; and to respond to the challenges of globalisation through greater solidarity, networking and coordination.

The atmosphere was fraternal and good preparatory work ensured the meetingÕs smooth running. There were presentations on Globalisation and the spirituality of JPIC. Each entity then presented a report on JPIC activities in the context of their national and regional reality There are five solemnly professed and five student friars on the Korean Commission. With the steady transition in the Vietnamese situation there is a serious proposal to train brothers for social ministries, appoint a coordinator for these ministries and ensure contact with the poor for friars in initial formation. The Philippines Province has make considerable progress in the integration of JPIC values in the life and ministry of the brothers. In Japan much of the JPIC work is done at a diocesan level. There is strong support for Franciscans International and they have worked hard on the debt issue. Many organizations in Hong Kong are working on socil justice issues with which the brothers could easily connect.

After drawing up a set of statutes for approval by the Provincials the brothers agreed on the following priorities: To examine the refugees situation in each entity and share the relevant information; support local debt relief campaigns; coordinate work with brothers in initial formation by enriching existing programmes; translate the Resource Book into Korean, Vietnamese, Mandarin and Japanese as well as organize seminars and courses on itÕs contents; and encourage the formation of Inter-Franciscan JPIC commissions.

 

¯      Mexico: The JPIC Resource Book of the Order was formally presented to the Conference of the Franciscan Family of Mexico ( Coframex) in May. The Superiors expressed great interest in the book and many womenÕs congregations ordered copies. A report on the work of the JPIC Commission was also presented, including the May Peace Mission to the borders. The Conference made a commitment to decisively support in a decisive the work of the JPIC National office. They are now actively supporting a two week national Seminar on JPIC with the Mexican Franciscan Institute of Spirituality. The first week will be in Chiapas from the 24-28^th of July and the second in Mexico City from the 31^st of July to the 4^th of August. The themes are: A critical analysis ofof what is happening at a national and international level, biblical and theological principles of JPIC, an option for peace: Franciscan spirituality and peace education, Franciscan Spirituality and Human Rights, Franciscan Spirituality and Ecology.

¯      Holy Gospel of Mexico: the brothers of the Province meet every year to reflect on a specific theme. In the context of this yearsÕ theme on the OrderÕs priorities, Alejandro Castillo was asked to make a presentation to the brothers on the JPIC resource book, as well as on the work of the JPIC office. As a result many of the brothers asked the commission to help organize Human RightÕs commissions in their parishes as well as promote education for peace in the colleges. This is helping the integration of JPIC values into the life and ministry of the brothers.

¯      Report on the Peace Mission : Copies of the Peace Mission report in Spanish are available from the JPIC office in Mexico. Their email address is: ffimex@laneta.apc.org

¯      Guatemala and Franciscan March for Ecology: To commemorate the International Environmental day, June 5^th, the JPIC Commission of the Franciscan Family of Guatemala organized a March to highlight the importance of environmental protection. They encouraged the use of bicycles on that day. The Commission also presented a document to the Legislative Assembly on the environmental situation of country and made specific requests concerning the protection of endangered areas, as well as denunciations of an International Petroleum company. They called for an increased emphasis on ecological education in the schools as well as at the University level.

John Felice, Provincial of the Holy Name province of New York, clarified the horizons of social justice:

'Fears can't deter nor determine our future'. He believes firmly that we witness most clearly to our Franciscan vocation when we seek to serve the dignity and the value of the human person in all its glory and all its frailty. This is the central issue of social justice. He has tried to make justice a characteristic of every ministry of the Province. Leading the friars in the area of direct service to the poor is, in a way, the easy part. The horizons of justice for the future is the ability to see how the Franciscan participates in the possible oppression of people, both at home and abroad, and then having the courage to advocate for change. John believes the poor of the Third World cannot save us but they can help keep us grounded and real. The reclamation of ourselves and our place in history lies in our willingness to grow in this area.

He also believes that any ministry successfully advocating justice in a province should be protected, and any ministry that does not allow the brotherhood to expand itÕs services in the area of justice should be abandoned.

Without the active involvement of the laity there can be no way forward in justice or any other area of ministry. Healthy and generous fraternities are needed to sustain the challenges of justice. He concludes that not all friars are capable or willing to expand their horizons in the area of justice. He admits not being able to change that fact. He can only hope that time and experience will lower the fear around these issues. But he cannot allow this fear to deter or determine the future of the brotherhood.

 

Massacre in Colombia: We received the following information about a massacre in Colombia from Brendan Forde, one of the brothers working there: ÒOn July 8th we had another massacre in one of our communities, La Union. It is a small community of about 150 people. At 3pm a group of armed men in army uniforms with balaclavas came in and rounded up the people. They separated the men from the women and children and then separated the men between 25 and 40.There were 6 and they shot them immediately on the village green. They then told the people that if they didnÕt abandon the village in 20 days they would come back and kill more. They people were displaced before and donÕt want that experience again. They are also very poor and donÕt have anywhere to go. So they have decided to stay. I was supposed to leave for Costa Rica at the end of July but in the light of what has happened I have decided to stay. I will probably be here till November anyway.
As you can imagine the situation is terribly tense. The people have no protection .We donÕt know what is going to happen but can only hope and pray. We baptised 3 children in the afternoon and it seemed like a holy act of defiance in the face of evil.

 

 

 

 

Francisco visited the JPIC animators of the Custody of the Holy Land and the Vice Province of Egypt. It was the last of the 15 conferences to be visited. Although it was not possible to organize a meeting of conference coordinators, the visit has helped establish contact between the JPIC office and the brothers in this region. Three brothers will participate in the Vossenack meeting and hope to learn from other conferences, as well as establish some workable projects for the future. There are several worthy initiatives taking place in both entities, which could greatly benefit from contact with the International fraternity. Jean Jacques Perennes OP, a former Dominican counselor and JPIC animator is open to supporting the brothers in Egypt in their work. The possibility of an inter-Franciscan approach will also be examined.

 

¯      European meeting on refugees: Representatives of friars working on refugee issues from four European Conferences ( Spain/Portugal, Central Europe, Italy and France) as well as from Ireland met in Barcelona June 30-July 2. Each Conference had previously organized a meeting in their respective conference. Both the host Provincial as well as the Provincial of Granada, representing UFME, were present for part of the meeting. Papers were presented: ÒRefugees and the Social Teaching of the ChurchÓ, ÒSt Francis and the marginalizedÓ and Òthe legal situation in Western Europe for refugeesÓ.

The meeting took place in the shadow of the discovery of bodies bodies of 58 Chinese refugees in Dover, England, as well as unknown numbers lost at sea between Morocco and Spain and along the Italian Adriatic coast. The laws, in Europe prompted by increased xenophobia and racism on the continent, are making it increasingly more difficult for refugees to stay.

Few brothers work on refugees issues. Those who do are mostly working alone and without full and decisive Provincial backing.

Participants were conscious of the General ChapterÕs mandate to work towards setting up networks of people and resources to respond to the growing refugee and displacement crisis in Europe and in the world. After pooling experiences and ideas the delegates drew up a plan based on four specific objectives: to inform, form, communicate and motivate the brotherhood to become more involved. Information will be made available through provincial publications as well as making personal visits to the local fraternities. Those brothers working on refugee issues will encourage the inclusion of themes on refugees in initial and ongoing formation programmes. They will also coordinate work with JPIC commissions, as well as with local church and non-governmental organizations. Finally, they will share practical ideas on how local fraternities might welcome refugees and help them. The delegates hope to receive support for their work from the JPIC office as well as from UFME.

¯      Results of the survey on work done by brothers in relation to 8:4 of General ChapterÕs Resolution: a synthesis of the synthesis:

Thirteen of the fifteen Conferences replied to the survey. This, at first sight, is an amazing response to any survey. However, when one looks at the number of entities that responded the impression changes radically. There are some 123 entities in the Order but only 44 survey forms were returned. Of these 7 had nothing to say and one was from an individual friar. The responses show that relatively few friars are involved in the task of healing that "shameful wound", "perhaps the greatest tragedy of all the human tragedies of our time", as John Paul II called the presence of many people forced from their homes among us. The concern expressed by the delegates to the General Chapter does not seem to find echo in the hearts and minds of the Provinces and friars throughout the world. There are, however, some encouraging signs and some good pointers for future planning can be found in the replies received.

¯      22 Provinces stated that they have friars working among refugees. 23 have friars involved with both displaced persons and ethnic minorities.

¯      A total of 92 friars is given for those working with all three categories of people

¯      Many friars began their work casually, by accident or by force of circumstances. For ten friars work began and continues as a private initiative. Thirteen have received formal approval of their respective Provinces but only five of feel supported by their Provinces. There is often approval from a distance.

¯      Eight Provinces support the work financially.

¯      10 friars class themselves as full-time workers. The rest are part-time or "now-and-again" operators.

¯      There is also a lack of trust and confidence in the refugees, displaced persons and ethnic minorities who are considered adventurers or simply as untrustworthy, strange people.

¯      The friars in general are open to the work done by other friars. They show a sympathy and interest and give moral support and at times show solidarity. While some show a certain tolerance towards Christian migrants there is a general intolerance of non-Christians, especially of Muslims.

There is general support and approval of the statement in resolution 8,4 of the General Chapter. Some think it worthy of the UN itself. Many feel that there is need for a strong declaration of support and an adoption of this statement as an urgent priority by the General Definitory of the Order and by the Provinces. There should be a commitment by the Order to this work, organized and directed through the JPIC and the Provincial JPIC Directors. Staff should be allotted to the JPIC and the project should be financed through the Order and Provinces. Seminars on Non-violence, Resolution of Conflict and Formation for Peace should be organized. The Order should also begin to research the reality of refugees, asylum seekers, exiles, displaced persons, ethnic minorities and all those marginalized persons in the world in order to help friars in their commitment. This would also help the Provinces and the Order itself to lobby at national and international levels and to apply political pressure for the better treatment of the poor and weak people of this world. They are the minors with whom St. Francis wished us to identify and from whom we receive our name as an Order. We should apply this pressure in conjunction with the media and other church and civil Authorities.

( for a copy of the full report contact the JPIC office. It can be sent via email.)

¯      Internally Displaced: Ò Dealing with the internally displaced (IDP) is often more arduous that with refugees who cross borders. The difficulty of having access to large numbers of people in insecure and isolated areas is compounded by the complexity of assisting civilians in their own countryÑwhere their own state authorities, or rebel forces in control, are frequently the very cause of their predicament.Ó Mrs. Sadako Ogata, UNHCR

      The UNHCR estimates there are 20-25 million IDPÕs around the world at the end of 1999. 23 countries have a population of IDPÕs of 300,000 or more. Compared to refugees, IDPÕs are also more likely to have inadequate shelter and be inaccessible to relief. They are less likely to be able to earn a living and receive adequate education and medical care while displaced.

¯      Franciscans Intentional and an Executive Director: The position of Executive Director of Franciscans International will become vacant on December 31, 2000. Letters of application together with resumes are being accepted until September 1, 2000. In order to provide for an effective transition, the applicant must be willing to relocate to New York by November 1, 2000. The position will be effective January 1, 2001. The board will meet in Rome from November 2-6, 2000. For details about the job, contact David Moczulski at: ofmjpic@igc.org

¯      Bro Herman sends message: Elke Gerards, Secretary to Bro. Hermann sent the following note to the JPIC office: ÒFather Hermann SchalŸck was very happy to receive your good wishes. Thank you very much for this kind gesture. On Friday, June 16th, 2000, I visited him in the hospital in Hamburg, Germany. I want to assure you, that he is doing very well and that he is in a good condition. He probably will leave the hospital in approximately two weeks from now. Father Hermann sends his cordial greetings to the brothers involved in a special way in JPIC. He seems to be confident to be able to be with you all in early October, as planned already.Ó

Interesting web-sites: For updates on the progress of Mons. RomeroÕs Cause for Beatification go to www.romero2000.com

¯      Book: Ò Catholic Social Teaching: Learning and living JusticeÓ, Michael Pennock, Ave Maria Press, USA.

¯      Prayer for Vossenack:

 

Gearoid Francisco î Conaire, OFM

Via S. Maria Mediatrice 25

00165 Rome, ITALY

E-mail: pax@ofm.org Web: http://www.ofm.org/

Tel: (+39-06) 6849-1218       Fax: (+39-06) 6849-1266