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No.2, March 2001
Newsletter of the OFM International Council for
Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation
(Prepared by the JPIC Office in Rome)
The committee evaluated the work and planned for 2002. Here are some of the highlights of the meeting. More details relating to the continental meetings and the JPIC International Council will be communicated at a later date.
Evaluation of Vossenack Proposals (21): The committee evaluated what has been done to implement the Vossenack proposals. A copy of the evaluation will be sent to the members of the International Council in the next few weeks. The committee was happy with the progress to date.
Ethical Investment: The General Definitory in line with their continuing reflection on ethical investments meet with Johannes Hoffmann, a German professor, March 22. He promotes alternative investment policies and works closely with the friars from the Fulda Province. He has helped established a scheme to evaluate banks and financial institutions according to ethical criteria.
JPIC and Initial formation: JosŽ Rodriguez Carballo, Secretary for Studies and Formation, was invited to meet with the Committee. The theme of the meeting was mutual collaboration in order to more fully introduce JPIC into the initial formation processes. There is need to overcome resistances on the part of both formators and JPIC coordinators. A need exists to get beyond the dialectic of accusation. JPIC will enter Òthe soul of the friarsÓ through formation, both initial and on-going (formation cannot do without the JPIC dimension). ÒExperiencesÓ among the poor as a practical way to help the young friars was mentioned; JosŽ made a distinction between ÒexperimentsÓ and Òexperiences.Ó Experience needs to be able to touch the heart, and this process needs to be accompanied and evaluated. JosŽ always spoke about the need to form friars integrally, including in the JPIC dimension of our charism.
The JPIC office has been asked to speak with formators at the courses organized in the Antonianum each September. JosŽ participated in Vossenack and will make a presentation at the European JPIC animators meeting in Assisi, October 2002. The JPIC office is invited to make a presentation during the meeting of Secretaries of Formation in Assisi the following week.
The objective of the meeting for the Secretaries of formation will be to put together a very practical Òdocument,Ó that will serve as a guide to formators, to help them especially in the novitiate, allowing integration of JPIC values. They hope to write a practical appendix to the Ratio Formationis. The Animation Committee has asked all Provincial JPIC committees in a letter to send practical suggestions, based on what has worked for their provincial formation programmes, to the JPIC office, via the JPIC Conference coordinator. These suggestions will be passed on to the redaction team working on the Ratio appendix.
v JPIC courses at the Antonianum: this question will be examined by the Secretariat of Formation and Studies in consultation with the relevant authorities. This is an important issue as many of our formators study there, especially Franciscan spirituality.
v Franciscan Study Centers: The Secretariat has little influence over Franciscan study centers. It was agreed to look for ways to assess what study centers are already doing in the area of JPIC (like course curricula). There is a process in place now to link the Formation and Studies Secretariat with different study centers. The availability of relevant information would be a valuable resource for those designing courses or incorporating the JPIC dimension into existing ones.
Agreements reached: It was agreed to mutually encourage interchanges between formators and JPIC animators at every level of the Order.
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v reciprocal participation at all JPIC and Formation and Study meetings on the international and continental levels.
v JosŽ will contact Centers of Study requesting that they provide us with what they are already doing in the JPIC area.
v JosŽ will recommend that on Formation councils there be someone from JPIC (coetus formatorum), and vice-versa.
v JosŽ will pursue the recommendation that there be a chair of JPIC at the Antonianum and that JPIC be integrated into courses of philosophy, theology and spirituality. The results of our agreements at this meeting need to be presented to the friars, both through JPIC and Formation and Study channels.
v JPIC commissions will provide the Secretariat of Formation and studies with practical information on how JPIC is being incorporated into the various stages of the initial formation process.
Continental meeting of the Americas: The day between the meeting of the Americas and the JPIC Council meeting, November 30, a sort of prayer/meeting will take place with people from each side of the U.S/Mexico border. After the 11th of September attacks border crossings have become more difficult and time consuming. For this reason the animation committee recommend the planned visit to Tijuana be suspended. Brothers hoping to participate at the meetings in San Luis Rey need to initiate their visa application process as soon as possible.
International JPIC Council Meeting: (December 1-5, 2002.) The JPIC office will send information to delegates in the near future. In preparation for the General Chapter in 2003, taking into consideration the principal theme of Structures, the animation committee feel there is a need to reflect on this issue related to the JPIC structures in the Order at the continental and International council meetings in 2002. In the context of whatever decision is made in the General Chapter, an important question for JPIC animators is: How do we guarantee that JPIC continues to be animated? Are there a set of essential criteria that always needs to be considered no matter what sort of possible new structure could emerge? Peter and Francisco will work on a first draft of criteria to be considered by the committee at their July meeting.
v A brief outline of the meeting: Each Conference coordinator will give a concise report of no more than seven minutes. They will consider the conference plan of action, the two principal successes and the main difficulties faced by the conference. The JPIC office report will also be presented. Proposals coming from continental meetings, conferences, JPIC Office and Animation Committee will be considered and decisions taken regarding which ones could be presented to the General Chapter. Time will also be allotted to discuss the structures of the Order in relation to JPIC. A consultation of the Council members will take place for names for a new animation committee to be considered by the General Definitory.
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Proposals for the General Chapter: JPIC provincial and conference commissions are encouraged to present proposals (in the framework of the Plenary Council, Mexico) for the General Chapter. These could be reflected on at the continental meetings and the International Council meeting. We recommend that they be presented in writing with a clear justification and a proposed process for implementation, at the provincial, national or international levels. What financial and personnel resources would be needed and what are the implications for our existing ministries or existing structures? One of the perennial problems of proposals is that very often those who propose them are not the people expected to implement them and very often they remain too vague to be implemented.
Africa-Europe Faith and Justice Network (AEFJN): It is an organization of about 40 religious congregations who work in Africa. The principal objective of the organization is to look for ways to help alleviate the structural injustices faced by African countries. They have offices in Washington and Brussels with several support groups. The offices do research and lobby Governments. The network is looking to expand itÕs membership. In this context the Franciscans were asked to consider joining. In fact, some provinces in the USA support the work of the Washington office. A proposal was made by the JPIC office to the General Definitory to join this organization. The General Definitory asked for more information, even though it manifested its willingness to participate and agreed to pay half the membership subscription. The African entities are presently considering the proposal.
Urgent action network: . This network has been considered as a possibility for many years, but has not been implemented due to lack of personnel and funds. The Mexican JPIC interfrancscan commission is willing to assume responsibility if $5,000 US can be made available to pay a salary. A proposal will be presented to Missionszentrale and other missionary funding agencies. A service could be offered to the whole Franciscan family to help Franciscans or people who work with them in times of threat to their lives to receive written statements of solidarity highlighting their cause. This new proposal will be presented to the interfrancsican JPIC commission (Roman 6) People on the email list will get no more than one appeal per month, and will be expected to write no less than one letter per year. Criteria must still be provided as to how urgent actions will be decided upon and processed.
Inter-congregational global warming working group: translations are underway of a document on climate change to help religious become more aware of the dangers facing life on the planet and to work for the environment and sustainable development. It can be used by religious communities around the world at the local level for community chapters, retreats, seminars, etc. Distribution will take place through the JPIC network of every congregation, the national inter-religious JPIC commissions and through the network of major religious superiors in each country and continent. The material will also be posted on a web page. Francisco is a member of the working group who have designed the document. Franciscans are regularly sought to give inspiration and become involved in environmental issues due to the figure of St. Francis, patron of ecologists.
International Ecology fraternity: The concerns expressed by the inter-congregational ecology working group dovetail somewhat with the idea proposed by the Province of St. Benedict, of an international ecological community in Brazil, and an idea from the franciscan bishop of Galapagos to have a Franciscan ecological presence on the island. The Animation Committee agree that the idea is worth pursuing. Further reflection needs to take place. Any ideas would be welcomed by Gerry Moore, General Definitor for Latin America ( gmoore@ofm.org ), the JPIC Rome office (pax@ofm.org) or the brothers in Brazil (bonaofm@internext.com.br ). Some criteria need to be established: do we want a local community that will just work locally and/or a community that interacts with NGOs, does in depth analysis of issues related to ecology, etc? How can we help to create a project that will include other people who are experts, while at the same time having a local community that will welcome these experts.
Support for brothers working with migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and ethnic minorities: the Animation CommitteeÕs proposal to encourage lay missionary support for brothers working with migrants, refugees and other related groups, linking up the preparation with the Franciscan Mission Service (Washington) was considered to be a good idea. The JPIC office has received two tentative petitions for lay missionaries from Colombia. If there are brothers anywhere in the Order who would like support, please contact the JPIC office, giving a job description and other relevant information. This will subsequently be communicated to the Order in a search for suitable candidates. Details about economic support for possible candidates still have to be worked out.
Interfrancsican lay missionary project proposal: the Animation Committee also presented a proposal to the Conference of the Franciscan Family (Ministers General) to be considered at their March meeting. There are several Franciscan initiatives around the world which help to train and support lay missionaries/associates. The committee suggest that the Generals promote a meeting for those responsible for running these services, to reflect on what can be done to coordinate these initiatives in favor of Franciscan evangelization.
Booklet on non-violence: A second draft of the booklet on Franciscan nonviolence was sent to the JPIC office. Some further redaction will be done before translation work starts. It is hoped that the document will be a useful tool for initial and ongoing formation. It may be too lengthy ( 50 pages) to be considered for use at the local fraternal level, but definitely could be used as retreat or seminar material by the JPIC commissions or the formation teams of a province. It is being supported by the inter-Franciscan JPIC commission, who have agreed to distribute it throughout the Franciscan family. If anyone has examples of Franciscan nonviolence in action please send short descriptions to the JPIC office as soon as possible for inclusion.
Dates for future Animation Committee meetings: San Luis Rey, July 29th -August 3rd. General Curia Rome, 10-15 February.
Statement by the Animation Committee of the OFM JPIC International Council on the resignation of Agostinho Diekmann ofm.
We wish to reiterate our support for Franciscans International. We believe FI is doing extremely important evangelisation in an unusual and unique setting: influencing policies and decision making processes, mitigating their negative impact on the poor, as well as curtailing human rights violations and denouncing them when they take place. All this is done to protect and strengthen the culture of life. The organization has done excellent work bringing these important issues, related to human rights, development, peace and ecology, into the United Nations structures and feeding back information to Franciscans in the field. The new structure of FI, including its sponsorship by the CFF, has given the organization a well deserved recognition and prominence.
We recognize that there still exist serious difficulties in making the organization a viable entity, not least, the precarious nature of procuring financial support. Our hope is that the ever closer collaboration among entities of the Franciscan Family, plus a growing consciousness of the importance of advocacy work, will help develop mechanisms whereby FI, as an organization, would have its economic needs automatically supported within the budgets of the member entities of the CFF.
It is our belief that the pressure to attain financial equilibrium has, in no small way, led to the current crisis with the resignation of Bro. Agostinho Dieckmann ofm. Agostinho was given the very demanding task of animating for FI, his understanding of the job description, as well as the additional responsibility of procuring financial backing.
As we are not privy to the opinions of all those involved, we do not wish to comment on the process leading to AgosthinoÕs resignation, nor make a value judgment on his decision. We do, however, wish to make it clear that we greatly appreciate all that he has done for FI and, as a commission, express our appreciation for the close and meaningful contact we have had with him since he took the job. Our experience has been a very positive one and we were constantly reminded by him to educate our brothers about FI and to encourage them to network with those involved in the service. We wish Agosthino every blessing in whatever ministry he assumes and look forward to working with him on Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation issues. We also offer our support to all those serving the Franciscan Family in FI.
February 2002
Peter Schorr ofm (JPIC, Rome), Gear—id Francisco O Conaire ofm (JPIC, Rome), Joe Rozansky ofm (USA), Bobby Vadakkal ofm ( India) Alejandro Castillo Morga ofm ( Mexico), Jurgen Neitzert ofm (Germany)
Please send us any news, dates of upcoming JPIC meetings, comments & suggestions to:
Gear—id Francisco î Conaire, OFM
OFM JPIC Office
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