ECOLOGY, PEACE AND JUSTICE
As Sisters of St. Joseph, open to the winds of the Spirit in our world, we sought to
know the pathways of our mission in these times of ecological and earth devastation.
Together
we met and prayed.
Together
we committed ourselves
to this:
Chapter 2003
Directional Statement
"We Are One"
JUSTICE , PEACE AND THE INTEGRITY OF CREATION
The mandate of this committee stems from the Gospel itself. As Christians
we understand that the doing of justice is not peripheral, but a constituent
part of living the Christian life. It goes beyond the work of charity,
but is best accompanied by it. Justice-making encompasses the research
and lobbying required to effect change in government, societal, and
business structures. It demands the need for patience and the appropriate
use of anger to motivate the necessary actions that can effect change.
It
requires the asking of questions, many difficult , to probe the reasons
why people are poor, and kept poor in our world, while the "haves and
have mores" live in plenitude. Yet poverty increases. It is about supporting
the work of food banks and soup kitchens while demanding more appropriate
wages and more affordable housing for the underprivileged. It concerns
working for human rights when it may not be a popular activity. This
could involve letter-writing, peaceful demonstrations, even civil disobedience,
but above all, the commitment to sustained and ongoing prayer.
This mandate has broadened in more recent years to include respect for
the environment, and even to see the whole universe as one great kinship.
As God is creator, all plants, animals, birds, insects, water, soil,
rock together praise and give glory to the God of the universe. Thus
we pray and strive together to build a world of peace and mutual respect.
Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation stems from our call as Sisters
of St. Joseph to be a community of reconciliation, unity and peace.
Commitment to justice and peace-making stems from a passionate love
for God and the "dear neighbour"!
