JPIC Rome office Report

1998-2003

 

Introduction:

 

The following report tries to give a brief overall view of the work carried out by the JPIC office since the General Chapter 1997. Another extensive report is available in the Vossenack publication, available on the JPIC office web page: www.ofm-jpic.org

 

 

1. Refugees: "Concerned that the situation of so many people who are forced to abandon their lands, particularly the migrant workers, the refugees, the ethnic minorities solicit the General Definitorium, through the Office of JPIC, in collaboration with all the Conferences and Provinces, to create a network of personnel and resources to intervene in the plight of the refugees"? (From Memory to Prophecy 8,4)

 

The JPIC office was unable to implement this proposal as outlined. However, the office tried to promote some initiatives. The following are some of the efforts made by the office to respond to the Chapter Mandate:

 

v       They promoted a survey to ascertain what work was being done, how many brothers were involved and what resources they had at their disposal.

v       Appeals for Humanitarian aid: The JPIC office made urgent appeals and supported others for the victims of several natural and man-made disasters: Hurricane Mitch in Central America ( 1999), Earthquake in El Salvador (2000), Kosovar refugees (1999)

v       Europe:

1.     A meeting of JPIC conference coordinators of each of the JPIC commissions of Europe took place in Sarajevo (1999) to look for ways to strengthen work with refugees. Meetings of friars involved with asylum seekers took place in each Conference, followed by a European meeting of representatives, in Barcelona in June 2000.

2.     The International Council, Vossenack, 2000 encouraged the JPIC office to work with Franciscans International (Geneva) to help asylum seekers in Europe. A follow up meeting took place in Rome and decisions were taken to strengthen the work.

v       America:

1.     Mexico/USA; Mexico/Guatemala: the Rome office supported and participated in a mission to the borders between the USA and Mexico and Mexico and Guatemala organized by the Mexico/Central America and the English Speaking Conferences in April 2000 in order to ascertain what was happening to migrant workers and what was being done to help them. A comprehensive report in Spanish and English was made.

2.     The Conference of Provincials in 2000 agreed to set up an inter provincial inserted fraternity on the Mexico border to work with migrants and organizations helping them. To date it has not materialized.

v       Urgent action appeals: Some Examples promoted by the JPIC office:

v       Colombia: to protect the lives of those working with internally displaced peoples (one million).

v       Brazil: Urgent action appeal to ensure the physical integrity of Br. Rodrigo Peret as a result of an attempt made on his life due to his work with the “landless”.

v       Church of the Nativity: JPIC commissions around the Order organized days of prayer, fasts, letters to Israeli embassies, meetings with Jewish communities, letters to Government officials etc.

 

2. First International JPIC Congress, Vossenack: This was a “millennium initiative” (8). The formation input was published in the English and Spanish languages and will be shortly available in Italian. These themes are available on the internet on the same site as the JPIC Resource Book.

 

There are three major initiatives that have contributed to furthering the incorporation of JPIC into the life and mission of the Order: These are: i.) The publication and translation of the JPIC Resource Book; ii) The Vossenack Congress, the Conference meetings and the Continental meetings; iii) closer contact and collaboration with the Secretariat for Formation and Studies.

 

1. JPIC Resource Book: JPIC office prepared the English and Spanish versions. The JPIC commissions of the Order assumed responsibility to translate, procure finance for publications and for the distribution of the material for use in initial and ongoing formation. It has been translated into nine languages (English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Croatian, Polish, German, French, Indonesian) and is being translated into three other languages (Korean, Japanese and Cantonese). It has been used extensively in seminars, retreats and courses by our brothers, as well as members of the Franciscan family. The Congress for Secretaries for Formation and Studies of the Order, October 2002, has recommended the Resource Book as a good basic text for JPIC education in initial and ongoing formation programmes. The Book is available on the internet, along with many other JPIC formation materials: www.ofm-jpic.org

 

2. Important sign of the times for the Order –JPIC Congress Vossenack: the participation by so many province animators and support staff (110), especially from the developing world, indicates that there is a growing awareness that JPIC is a central and important dimension of our Franciscan vocation.
3. Collaboration with Secretariat of Formation and Studies: Participation by José Rodriguez Carballo ofm at the Vossenack European JPIC Continental meetings was important and significant and opened the way for more meaningful collaboration between Formation and JPIC commissions at every level of the Order. Two subsequent meetings between the JPIC office (one with the Animation Committee) and the Secretariat of Formation and Studies agreed on some concrete initiatives to bring the process forward. Here are some of the most significant agreements reached that have been acted on:

v       Investigate the possibility of having a chair for JPIC at the Antonianum. (now a proposal to the General Chapter by the European JPIC animators).

v       Both Peter Schorr ofm and Francisco O Conaire ofm presented papers at the Congress for Secretaries of Formation and Studies of the Order, October 2002. There was a wonderful openness to JPIC by the Formators. They made several strong proposals to contribute to incorporating JPIC into initial and ongoing formation processes, soon to be published in the updated Ratio Formationis.

v       Increased collaboration between both commissions is taking place at every level of the Order.

 

1. Nearly every entity has a friar named to animate JPIC and most have commissions. Some have Offices (6 provinces). Six provinces have full time animators and three have women working full time on their teams.

 

2. Francisco visited each of the 15 JPIC Conference commissions at least twice and some on three occasions (30 visits in five years). He met with Provincial commissions, spoke with the young friars in initial formation in many Provinces, some Provincial Definitories, ongoing formation sessions of provinces and, where they exist, met with the inter-Franciscan JPIC commissions.

 

3. Contact: It is published and sent via email every six weeks as well as being available on the internet. It is translated into five languages, by members of the JPIC commissions and is available in English, Spanish, Italian, Polish and German. It shows the extent and diversity of JPIC work around the Order. One of the signs of the growth in JPIC consciousness is a proportionate increase in news for publication and interest shown in its contents. Many JPIC animators make copies available to the fraternities in their Provinces, while other include some of the information in Provincial publications.

 

4. Signs of a growth in openness to JPIC and a recognition of its importance:

v       The quality of JPIC animation is improving in the Order with many excellent and committed brothers appointed, for more extended periods of time, with a clearer understanding of their role. Many are dealing admirably with the frustration levels associated with JPIC animation!

v       The use of the JPIC Resource Book in formation programmes.

v       Success of the Vossenack meeting and the printed materials.

v       JPIC Animation Committee of International Council: The members on both committees, appointed since 1998, were deeply committed to JPIC animation. The committee has met on 12 occasions since 1997.

v       14 of the 15 Conference commissions are now meeting regularly. Between 1997 and 2003 approximately 100 JPIC Conference meetings have taken place throughout the Order. (Two Conference commissions, that had not met in ten years, are now meeting regularly)

v       Most Conference commissions have statutes approved by the Ministers Provincial of the Conference.

v       Three Continental meetings for JPIC animators were organized in 2002 by the animators themselves: Africa, Europe and Americas.

v       Closer links established between Formation and JPIC Commissions, and a recognition of the importance to work with friars in initial formation.

v       Closer links with the JPIC commissions of the Franciscan Family, both at the International and local levels, with a growing recognition of the need to build networks to promote these gospel values.

v       The sponsoring of Franciscans International by the Conference of the Franciscan Family (CFF) – an invaluable service to bring issues relating to Human Rights, Ecology, Peace and Justice from our fraternities to the International Forum.

 

5. Other important initiatives:

 

Publication of formation materials: Climate Change booklet and Franciscan Nonviolence book.

v       Climate Change booklet: Drawn up and published in coordination with JPIC commissions of other congregations for use in religious communities around the world (translated and distributed in 14 languages). The objective is to raise consciousness among religious of the seriousness of the ecological destruction and what must be done. The OFM JPIC office helps coordinate the work.

v       Franciscan Nonviolence Booklet: After 11 of September 2001 Franciscans are challenged to look again at our tradition of nonviolence and what we as Franciscans can offer as an alternative to the militaristic approach to dealing with violence and terrorism. A 60 page book was commissioned by the JPIC Animation Committee, September 2001, now available in several languages. It is offered to our fraternities and the Franciscan family as an education resource, available in English, Spanish and Italian on the internet.

v       Two awards: a) “Abisi prize”, from an organization in Sicily; b) The JP Pontifical commission recommended the JPIC office for a prize, the “Goccia D’Oro” for its work on creating ecological consciousness in 2002.

 

v       Five clear proposals are presented for consideration to the General Chapter: (i) Fraternities and Eco-Sustainability; (ii) Active Gospel Non-violence ; (iii) JPIC Chair(s) at the Antonianum and Franciscan Institutes and Universities. (iv) Refugees and The Excluded; (v) Ethical Policy for the Order Regarding Economic and Financial Practices and insure that the members of the Chapter understand their importance. Go too: http://www.ofm-jpic.org/ofmjpic/index.html

v       Modification of the General Statutes in relation to JPIC: several proposals are tabled for consideration to strengthen JPIC in the Statutes.

v       Help change “the mentality” of the brotherhood towards JPIC: Pope John Paul in January 2002 called for an “ecological conversion”. By this he means a change in our mentality; in our way of relating to creation; a shift in our way of perceiving the created world, that is, as a partner and not as an object to be exploited. It symbolizes a much deeper change that is needed in relation to the way we live and the way we relate to God, to ourselves, to one another and to creation. We need to overcome the fear of the political dimension of our spirituality.

v       Continue animating JPIC in the Order at all levels: Designate brothers at every level of the Order with the specific task of animating JPIC. These brothers need explicit support from the Governments of the Order, they need ongoing formation, material recourses and adequate time to fulfil their mission. We need to encourage the establishment of JPIC offices.

v       Continuation of the JPIC office in Rome: it is important that the JPIC office continues to function as an independent office, with a budget and adequate personnel to continue to promote JPIC in the Order.

v       Formation for animators: JPIC animators need to be given opportunities to prepare for the job and continue with their own ongoing formation. Similarly, brothers in initial formation need to be encouraged to take courses related to JPIC.

v       JPIC Formation Programmes for friars: There is a need for the inclusion of JPIC material in the philosophical and theological training of friars as well as its incorporation into the initial and ongoing programmes, emphasising both intellectual and experiential preparation. The Church’s Social Teaching needs to be particularly emphasised.

v       Leadership as collaborative ministry: the concept of “collaborative ministry” needs to be taught. When planning programmes and activities collaboration must take place between JPIC and other commissions and secretariats, particularly with Formation and Evangelisation.

v       Inter-Franciscan collaboration: Encourage Provinces, especially at Provincial Chapters, to make commitments to promote inter-Franciscan projects, freeing personnel and providing material resources.

v       Clear directives from the Order (General and Provincial) in relation to JPIC projects. When governments entrust the JPIC commissions with specific tasks there is a greater possibility the work will lead to stronger integration of JPIC values in the life and ministry of the fraternities.

v       The appointment of more than one person to the JPIC office in Rome. In relation to JPIC work and the structures we recommend:

·      Continuation of the JPIC International Council (meeting every two years) and the appointment of an Animation Committee.

·      A JPIC animator in every entity with a team to support him.

·      Approval of Statutes at the General, the Conference and the Provincial levels which provide criteria and an orientation for the work.

·      A plan of action and a budget.

 

v       Establish a chair for JPIC at the Antonianum and encourage the inclusion of JPIC material in the religious studies and in the formation of clerics. Include formation courses in JPIC in the training of future formators.

v       Insure the Distribution, translation and familiarization for all the brothers in initial and ongoing formation with JPIC materials, available on the web at: www.ofm-jpic.org

v       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. Brothers need to be trained and assigned to these ministries. Support and collaborate with other religious organizations, like “Africa Europe/America Faith and Justice Network”, who are working for a more just and peaceful world.

v       We need to learn some of the technical approaches from civil society and their organizations to respond to problems relevant to JPIC.

v       More full time JPIC Provincial animators and the preparation of brothers to assume responsibility for International animation within the Order.

 

Gratitude and Thanks: Peter Schorr ofm and Francisco Ó Conaire ofm would like to thank all the JPIC animators of the Order, past and present, for their commitment and work since 1997, without whom JPIC animation would have been impossible.

 

Gearóid Francisco Ó 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