JPIC Issues & Resources
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JPIC KEY ISSUES The National JPIC Commission has reviewed the issues of concern to the other branches of the Franciscan family (e.g. the OFM JPIC office; Franciscans International (FI); Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land; the Francophone Franciscan Family of Canada’s Service intercommunautaire d’animation franciscaine (SIAF). In addition, concerns of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CCODP); The Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA); and the Canadian Religious Conference (CRC) were considered. Since their discernment involved reading the signs of the times it is no surprise that there is much convergence of concern. As a result, and because it is impossible to address every issue that arises, the primary priorities it is adopted the National Fraternity should focus on are:
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THE PROCESS: SEE, ACT, JUDGE The process for dealing with these issues is to take information, together with Catholic Social Doctrine/Teaching and Franciscan Tradition and spirituality, as the basis for continuing formation which must then lead to action. “See, judge, act” (to which we add “evaluate and celebrate”), is the Catholic Action model favoured by many Catholic organisations including the OFM JPIC Office. Local Fraternities are asked to consider this plan and these issues at a General Meeting. The fraternities are asked to decide which issue(s) their Fraternity will address to the extent that they are able and to select (elect or appoint) a JPIC Councillor to promote and animate JPIC in their Fraternity. Once the issues have been selected by a Fraternity, reference to the appendices of the JPIC Action Plan prepared by the relevant French or English Sector JPIC Sub-Commission will indicate resources for formation and action. |
A FRANCISCAN VOICE IN CANADA Secular Franciscans called to be a Franciscan voice in Canadian society will find that advocacy is a major tool of JPIC action. Promotion and advocacy of values of Franciscan spirituality highlighted in the JPIC issues above can be effectively achieved through individual and group prayer and action. For resources and to see what is current please visit the following sites:   Franciscans for Ecology National OFS JPIC Commission:National Fraternity JPIC Commission |
Social Justice and Integrity of Creation JPIC
Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
(Micah 6:8)
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
The Lord God took man and settled him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and take care of it” (Gen 2:15)
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
(Micah 6:8)
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
The Lord God took man and settled him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and take care of it” (Gen 2:15)
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JUSTICE, PEACE AND INTEGRITY OF CREATION Adopted from National Fraternity of Canada The Basis of Franciscan JPIC concern and action The basis of Franciscan justice, peace and integrity of creation (JPIC) concern and action is the Bible, Catholic Social Doctrine/Teaching, Franciscan Tradition and Spirituality, the OFS Rule and General Constitutions, reading the “signs of the times” and the Catholic Action model of “See, Judge, Act.” Franciscan values for 800 years have been: poverty, simplicity, humility, justice, peace, joy in God, universal brotherhood and kinship with creation. An OFS Presence in the World In March 2003, the International Council of the OFS (CIOFS) established the Presence in the World Commission (PIWC) to respond to the Conclusions of the 2002 General Chapter regarding the presence of Secular Franciscans in the world. This presence includes activity in the field of JPIC. The OFS General Chapter, 2008 in its’ conclusions stated: “For too long, the Order has not fully entered into its active mission in the world. The moment has come, and it can no longer be deferred, to “enter the city,” to exercise with determination and full visibility its own responsibilities to witness, and to promote justice, peace, human rights and the integrity of creation”. Parrhesia means to speak clearly and boldly without fear or hesitation. Benedetto Lino, ofs, (a CIOFS Presidency Councillor) wrote this about parrhesia recently: “Today, more than ever, we should ask the Lord for the grace of parrhesia, for each one of us, for the whole SFO [sic] and for our churches.” Parrhesia applies to all JPIC activity and especially to Franciscan Voice Canada (see below n. 8). OFS Rule and General Constitutions The OFS Rule (nn.13-19) and the OFS General Constitutions (“For a Just and Fraternal Society” nn. 18-23) form the OFS basis of the JPIC “holy activity” mentioned by Our Seraphic Father Francis (Later Adm & Exhort 51-53). The Rule and General Constitutions are in turn grounded on the basic principles of Catholic Social Doctrine e.g. human dignity; the common good; the preferential option for the poor; agápe/caritas/love and peace; solidarity; and the sacramentality, integrity and stewardship of creation |
TRILLIUM REGIONAL FRATERNITY
JUSTICE, PEACE AND INTEGRITY OF CREATION
Franciscan Tradition and Spirituality Franciscan tradition and spirituality leads us to put life before profit, to struggle for justice and peace, and to care for creation. This is at the heart of our Franciscan charism, experience and holy activity. Francis and Clare refused to be bound by the values of a merchant society based on profit at the cost of the exploitation and marginalisation of the poor. Following the poor Jesus, they lead an alternative counter-cultural life based on solidarity with the lepers, the poor and the marginalised (the minores) and also with nature, a gift from God, with whom we have kinship as the Canticle of the Creatures and OFS Rule attest. We can say that Francis and Clare responded to the “Cry of the earth and Cry of the poor” and that they also discerned a “cry for peace” and sought right relationships and were peacemakers. Still today the enemies of justice, peace and good stewardship of creation are greed, lust for power and ignorance. To emulate Francis and Clare currently requires concrete choices and action in a commercially globalised world. Implementation of this JPIC Action Plan will lead to contemporary ways in which we can follow Francis and Clare in a practical and concrete manner. The OFS, in order to follow the Rule, has a prophetic mission to make it a priority in its’ fraternal and individuals’ lives to raise their own and others’ awareness of, and act for, JPIC. Our JPIC plans and actions should reflect our belief that in addressing systemic injustice, which is the root cause of so much poverty and pain in our world, we will bring hope and positive change into the lives of those who suffer most. We need to understand the link between faith, charity, justice and stewardship; to develop the habit of analysis of political, social and economic issues (see, judge and act) in light of the social doctrine of the church in order to arrive at clear conclusions; and to take pertinent action ourselves and in collaboration with partner organizations and especially to advocate for the voiceless and un-empowered (the minores). |
JPIC Resources JPIC Resources GREAT SOURCES FOR Resources, Issues and Materials contact: FRANCISCAN VOICE CANADA |