Report

7^th meeting of OFM ICJPIC

San Luis Rey, December 1-4, 2002

 

The International Council meeting took place in San Luis Rey, California, following the Pan-American JPIC continental meeting. Most of the members of the Council participated in the Continental meeting. The Council meeting was attended by all 15 conference representatives, animation committee members, a representative of Franciscans International, Geneva, translators and secretarial staff.

 

Included in this report is the following:

1.     Introduction

2.     Highlights from the JPIC office Report

3.     Role of the JPIC Conference coordinator

4.     Role of the JPIC animation committee

5.     Questionaire for JPIC International Meeting and Conference Reports

6.     Proposals and recommendations made by the ICJPIC.

7.     Themes for Reflection: Nonviolence and Environmental Sustainability

8.     JPIC and the Structures of the Order.

9.     Communications made by the International Council.

 

This meeting takes place every two years and is a consultative body for the JPIC Rome office and the General Definitory. The Council analysis what is happening in the world from a gospel and Franciscan perspective and makes proposals to various bodies within the Order. An important focus this year was the preparation of proposals for the General Chapter. Five proposals were made, all of which have been approved by the General Definitory for presentation at the Chapter, with additional proposals for the Particular Statutes of the Order. As well as the General Chapter proposals the Council made several additional proposals, a synopsis of which will be presented in this shortened version of the Council report. A full report is being drafted by the JPIC office, copies of which will be made available later in the year to members of the Council and to anyone else wishing a copy. The Council also recommended names to the General Definitory for the Animation committee.

 

Francisco introduced the proceedings with a report from the JPIC Rome office, outlining the work of the office over the last five years and what has been achieved in JPIC animation since the last General Chapter, 1997. The Minister General asked the office to provide him with a report, ideas from which he is at liberty to include in his overall report of stewardship to the General Chapter, May 2003. The office presented a report to the Assembly of JPIC animators in Vossenack, October 2000, which is available in the publication of the Vossenack Text. (www.ofm-jpic.org) As well as this report, a separate text describes what has been done to implement the 21 recommendations made by the International Council in Vossenack, which took place after the Congress. Despite their number, work was done on nearly all of the proposals made at Vossenack,. The members of the Council acknowledged the good work done to implement these recommendations, an indication of the strength and commitment to JPIC by animators.

 

A. Some highlights from the JPIC office report:

 

1.     Refugees: In general terms, in relation to the request on refugees etc, we have not executed what was asked by the General Chapter, but the office has tried to promote some initiatives.

2.     Urgent Action appeals: these appeals were promoted to defend the lives of our brothers in Colombia, Brazil and Bethlehem.

3.     First International JPIC Congress ,Vossenack: Ongoing formation for 100 JPIC provincial animators.

4.     Three major initiatives that have contributed to furthering the incorporation of JPIC into the life and mission of the Order: These are:

¯      The translation and publication of the JPIC Resource Book. (12 languages)

¯      The Vossenack Congress, the Conference meetings and The Continental meetings;

¯      closer contact and collaboration with the Secretariat for Formation and Studies

5.     Animation by JPIC office: visits to 15 JPIC Conference commissions at least twice and some on three occasions (30 visits to conference commissions in five years). There were over 100 JPIC conference meetings since the last General Chapter.

6.     Publication: Contact is published every six weeks and sent via email, as well as made available on the internet. It is translated into five languages.

7.     Quality of JPIC animation improving: there is a general recognition that JPIC animators are more aware of their role and are making good use of the formation materials for initial and ongoing formation.

8.     Animation Committee: the membership on both committees, appointed since 1998, are excellent and deeply committed brothers. Twelve meetings have taken place.

9.     JPIC Continental meetings: Three continental meetings were organized in 2002: Africa (Nairobi), Europe (Assisi) and Americas (San Luis Rey).

10.  Networks: Strengthening of networking with the Franciscan Family and other congregations.

11.  Conference of the Franciscan Families: agreeing to be sponsors of Franciscans International and the excellent work being done by Franciscans International.

12.  Formation Materials: The most important of which are: JPIC Resource Book, Climate Change booklet, Non-violent Booklet (all available at www.ofm-jpic.org)

13.  JPIC office awards: Two awards were given to the office for itÕs effort to build a more just and peaceful world.

14.  Challenges:

¯      clear and strong proposals for the General Chapter

¯      to help change Òthe mentalityÓ of some brothers towards JPIC.

¯      Ensure brothers are appointed at every level of the Order with the specific task of animating JPIC.

¯      Formation for animators.

¯      JPIC formation programmes for friars.

¯      Collaboration between JPIC commissions and Secretariats, particularly when planning work with Formation and Evangelisation.

¯      Establish a chair for JPIC at the Antonianum and encourage the inclusion of JPIC material in religious studies and in the formation of clerics.

¯      We must strengthen our capacity to influence decisions in the centres of political and economic power before they have negative consequences for the poor we serve. (International Debt, ecological destruction, World Trade Organization etc.)

¯      Continue to support Franciscans International and the JPIC Washington office for Latin America, who are bringing a Christian and a Franciscan voice to bear on proceedings at national and international levels.

 

B. Role of JPIC Coordinator at Conference Level

 

1.     Animate JPIC at the conference level into the life and ministry of the brotherhood.

2.     Convoke and prepare the agenda for the meeting of the commission (possibly with the help of an Executive Committee).

3.     Role of the commission meeting:

a.     Evaluate tasks that have been agreed upon;

b.     Plan the work of JPIC at the conference level, taking into consideration agreements of the International Council, General Chapter or continental meetings; and

c.     Ensure a legal framework for the commission (e.g. statutes). Important to get approval from the Ministers Provincial.

4.     Communications:

a.     Maintain good, strong and frequent, when necessary, communications within the Conference, with Rome and, when necessary, with other members of International Council;

b.     Distribution of formation material from Rome or elsewhere;

c.     Make Contact available; (could consider translation into your language); and

d.     Strong and clear communications with the Minister Provincial who is president of conference (e.g. reports, or present at meeting).

5.     Responsible, with JPIC office, for the ongoing formation of Animators for the conference. (e.g. during conference meeting, elaboration and distribution of formation materials)

6.     Participate in the International Council, which takes place every 2 years

7.     Ensure that you have adequate technical and material resources to do the job (e.g. accessible to members of the commission and the Rome office)

8.     Time to do the job. Animators need to negotiate with provincials and with the provincial president of the conference to ensure they have sufficient time available for job.

9.     ÒLiaisoningÓ with the secretariat of evangelisation and of formation and studies and other secretariats within the structure, to ensure collaboration as needed. To maintain communication and promote work within the Franciscan Family, Franciscans International, other Justice and Peace commissions of other religious congregations, other religions and NGOs as necessary or possible.

10.  Participate in the continental meetings

11.  Always make sure that, if you cannot do the job, someone else is delegated to assume responsibilities.

 

C. Role of the Animation Committee:

 

1.     To help the JPIC director in realizing projects and suggestions given by the International Council and approved by the General Definitory

2.     To prepare the agenda of the International Council and programs of work, which also needs to be approved by the General Definitory

3.     To propose and encourage new initiatives or projects in JPIC

4.     To prepare an annual report about JPIC which will be sent to all provinces.

 

D. Questionaire for JPIC International Meeting and Conference Reports

 

As part of the preparation for the meeting, the Rome office sent a questioneer to each JPIC Conference animator. A synthesis of the replies will be available in the final report of the office and on request. The responses give an overall impression of the state of JPIC in the Order. The questions elicit information on such topics as: number of meetings, whether the conference has statutes, when the conference commission was established, whether there is an approved budget, use of the JPIC resource book and supplements, formation programmes for animators, problems and successes in the work, communications in the conference, conference plan of action, evaluation of the Rome office and the evaluation of the Vossenack International Congress.

 

Each conference animator was given seven minutes to outline the work in the conference and was asked to submit a written report. Many animators gave a synopsis of the the salient points are included in the office report. The following is a summery of the principal problems and successes in the conferences:

 

Problems:

¯      Lack of interest and commitment by brothers to JPIC

¯      Lack of commitment by some animators, too many other commitments, few full time animators and lack clarity in understanding of their role

¯      Geographical distances that affect communication, provincialism, language barriers and too few meetings.

 

Successes:

¯      Publications

¯      Collaboration with the Franciscan Family, FI and others

¯      A growing commitment to JPIC by brothers, formators and Provincials

¯      Incorporation into formation processes: Formation courses, JPIC Resource Book, JPIC in the Ratios of the Provinces.

 

 

 

E. Proposals and recommendations made by the ICJPIC.

 

Copies of the proposals and recommendations in English, Spanish and Italian are available from the JPIC office. A summary of the salient aspects of the proposals is given below:

 

1.     Fraternities and Eco-Sustainability.

The General Chapter recommends that the Ministers Provincial, JPIC commissions and experts in the field of ecology, during the six-year period 2003-2009, promote a study on the relationship between our fraternities and their Eco-sustainability, in order to measure their environmental impact (Òfoot-printÓ) and to help the brothers live in ways that are more Eco-compatible.

 

2.     Gospel active nonviolence.

"The General Chapter asks each entity of the Order, between the years 2003-2009, to establish ways to help the brothers to live in an active nonviolent way Ð within ourselves, with others and with creation. In order to achieve this, learning experiences in gospel nonviolence need to be developed in each entity, with particular reference to:

a) Coping with conflict.

b) Conflict resolution.

The General Chapter recommends that these programmes be jointly developed by JPIC, Formation and Evangelisation commissions, supported by the General Curia in Rome.

 

3.     Refugees and the excluded.

The 2003 General Chapter reconfirms the priority of the 1997 Chapter on the care of refugees, migrants and ethnic minorities and extends our concern to others who live in extreme poverty: the homeless, landless and internally displaced persons.

To implement this priority a friar (or alternatively a lay person) should be appointed to work full time to inform the friars; to encourage those who are already working in this field; and to elaborate new initiatives. This work should be done in close collaboration with the Office of JPIC in Rome while using the resources offered by Franciscans International.

 

4.     Ethical Policy for the Order Regarding Economic and Financial Practices

During the peroid 2003-2006 the General Definitory will establish a commission composed of friars and appropriate experts to elaborate an ethical policy that will orient the economic and financial practices of the order and its entities. The friars and experts should work in collaboration with the provinces and conferences and the policy should include a specific section on ethical investment.

 

5.     Chair for JPIC in Antonianum and other Franciscan Institutes and Universities.

 

a)     The General Chapter decides that: a chair dedicated to JPIC be established in the Pontifical Athenaeum Antonianum of Rome with a special emphasis on the topics of Creation and Non-Violence.

 

b)   The General Chapter recommends that similar chairs and courses dedicated to JPIC be established in all the Franciscan Institutes and Universities.

 

6.    Communications

Four proposals were made to improve communications: ensuring job assignments at provincial level be for a sufficient period of time; adequate material resources for animators; clear proposals from provinces when support is needed; encouraging twinning relationships between provinces.

7.    HIV/AIDS

Three proposals were made in this area, taking into consideration the appeal made by the JPIC commission of the Sub-Saharan conference. Proposals include: HIV/AIDS theme at the next ICJPIC meeting; request to the Sub-Saharan conference to appoint an intern to work in Geneva, liaising with the JPIC Rome office, collecting information and raising consciousness; and lobby work to ensure reasonably priced medicines for HIV/AIDS patients

 

8.    JPIC and Formation.

Seven proposals were made to continue the collaborative work with the formators, especially supporting the recommendations made by the International meeting for Secretaries for Formation and Studies, Assisi, October 2002. The Council also calls for the continuation of efforts to form JPIC animators, the collection of available formation materials, highlighting problems of the times by participating in events organized by the International community, encouraging dialogue, formation of brothers for International work, and the organization of seminars on current topics.

 

9.    Continental meetings.

The International Council proposes to all conferences that a meeting take place in the next three years in every continent for the JPIC provincial animators. Others may be invited as necessary. The International Council meeting will take place immediately following one of the continental meetings. The Council members may participate in the continental meeting as well.

 

10.         Recommendations.

1)    The International Council recommends that a council be established in each continent made up of the conference animators of that continent, one of which is named president Òad tempusÓ. One of the tasks of this council is to organize, along with the JPIC Rome office, the continental meetings for JPIC coordinators and to elaborate statutes if necessary.

 

2)    The ICJPIC strongly recommends to the General Definitory that an International JPIC Congress take place by 2006, in accordance with suggestions to be made by the JPIC Rome office and the Animation Committee.

11. Reaffirm commitment to Vossenack proposals.

 

F.    Nonviolence and Environmental Sustainability

 

1. As part of the ongoing formation of the brothers two seminars dedicated to the environment and nonviolence were organized during the Council meeting. The seminar on nonviolence was animated by Sr. Mary Little ofs (Pace e Bene Peace Institute) and Ann Symens-Bucher (co-coordinator of the Santa Barbara JPIC commission). They led the group in a meditation on non-violence, using the story of St. Francis on ÒPerfect Joy.Ó After offering their reflections, Anne and Mary gave examples of ways non-violence are growing in our world today, citing, among other things, the use of Òhuman rightsÓ language and the emergence of the ecological awareness. Each person discussed experiences of non-violence with a partner. A discussion on non-violence in JPIC animation and in politics followed and the session closed with the rereading of the story in several languages. They also encouraged the use of the booklet on nonviolence recently published by Pace e Bene, requested by the Animation committee.

 

2. Francisco offered reflections from his paper delivered at the European JPIC meeting in Assisi, called ÒEnvironmentally Sustainable FraternitiesÑin Harmony with all of Creation.Ó Teddy spoke on the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, highlighting the main points from his paper on the meeting, prepared for the Council, including ways Franciscans can participate in sustainable development. Guest Dr. Tom English offered sobering statistics on the environmental crisis, including that if we continue at present rates of destruction, we will have destroyed all tropical rainforest in 50 years and 25% of the worlds species will be extinct, resulting in changes in the Òfood webÓ which will effect our ability to feed humanity.

 

Participants met in language groups to share what was heard on ecology and discuss how they can promote environmental conciseness in fraternities. A representative from each group reported back on the group discussion and recommendations. A common point was the need to promote recycling among fraternities.

 

G. JPIC and the Structures of the Order:

 

Francisco prepared a paper on the theme of JPIC and the structures of the Order. The object was to provoke reflection on the essential structures and resources need to do the work of JPIC animation at every level of the Order. He started referring to the statement made by the Conference presidents, assembled in the Curia, May 2002, that the JPIC office should remain an independent office, animating JPIC in the formation programmes and evangelisation activities of the Order. The role of the JPIC animator is to help clarify what sort of structures would be most beneficial for JPIC animation in the Order and to point out to their provincials and chapter delegates the negative and positive aspects of different proposals affecting this ministry. The overall feeling expressed at all the Continental meetings and at the International Council was that the JPIC office should remain an independent office and work collaboratively with the Secretariat for Formation and Studies and Evangelisation.

 

 

H. Communications made by the International Council:

 

Letters were sent to the following groups and individuals:

 

¯      To the Ministers Provincial: Highlighting the work of the continental meetings, referring to the principal challenges for each continent and expressing thanks for their support for the meetings.

¯      Press release: a statement by the ICJPIC on the build up to war in Iraq, calling on President Bush and Prime Minister Blair to use dialogue and peaceful means to resolve the conflict in Iraq.

¯      Letter of Solidarity: Two letters were sent to Louis Vitale ofm and Gerry Zawada ofm, prisoners of conscience against the School of the Americas.

¯      Letter of Thanks: to the three provincials of the US Provinces (Sacred Heart, St. John the Baptist, and Holy Name) and to Helmut Schlefel, ofm, president of Mission Central for their economic support of the Conference of the Americas.

¯      Commitment to distribute a letter on HIV/AIDS written by the Sub-Saharan JPIC commission.

¯      A letter of support to the Nonviolence Peace Force, meeting in India for the inauguration of the nonviolence peace initiative.

 

 

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